Working on this blog is a labor of love - love of course for our Cairn kids, but also for the two-foots who rescue them, as well as the blessed forever families who adopt them! Love as an emotion needs music to better express it. So I am very happy to now have music on the blog!!
Turn on your speakers, and enjoy the tunes while you read the happy-ever-after stories of our adopted cairns, or get some great behavior advice. Scroll to the very bottom of the page to select another track. Have a favorite you'd like to nominate? Then just leave a note and I'll check it out.
And while you are at the bottom of the page, check out the slideshow of our adopted kids. As always, thanks for visiting the blog!!
It's 11 pm - do you know where your Cairn is??
Monday, June 16, 2008
Beeny
Beeny went to her forever home yesterday She's such a happy little girl and I know she's going to have a wonderful life and be spoiled rotten by her mom -- well, spoiled more that is. She was my first foster, and I couldn't have asked for anything more. She was a "perfect" cairn princess. Happy forever, sweetheart!! Susan & Ken, foster mom & dad. .
Eleanor's Fourth Anniversay of Her Gotcha Day!
It was four years ago today (Fathers Day) that we made the six hour drive round trip to pick up Eleanor to be our very first foster. By the time we arrived home that evening, we knew she would never leave us.
She has blossomed from a timid little girl to a slightly over weight Queen of the house! Her love of life and zeal for adventure have kept us all young at heart! But then, isn;t that what we all yearn for? To belong and to feel totally loved and accepted? Eleanor has given us the gift of her unconditional love and we celebrate her fourth anniversary with hearts full of love and appreciation for the entire Colonel Potter rescue miracle!
Dee and Galynn
Eleanor and Teddy
Spring, Tx
She has blossomed from a timid little girl to a slightly over weight Queen of the house! Her love of life and zeal for adventure have kept us all young at heart! But then, isn;t that what we all yearn for? To belong and to feel totally loved and accepted? Eleanor has given us the gift of her unconditional love and we celebrate her fourth anniversary with hearts full of love and appreciation for the entire Colonel Potter rescue miracle!
Dee and Galynn
Eleanor and Teddy
Spring, Tx
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Shelalegh is now Raven
Another update from Pac MJ:
Last night I spoke to Sandy Stone who adopted Shelalegh back in April. She reported that Shelalegh, now Raven is doing very well. She has discovered her prey drive and is very interested in what the squirrels are doing. Raven and her two male siblings go to doggy daycare once a week and all three come home tired and worn out - a good benefit! Raven is very sweet and well-mannered. Sandy's other two terriers have not engaged her in play, but Sandy feels it should be very soon. Sandy fell and broke her hand and nose (ouch!) so she hasn't been able to type very well.
Last night I spoke to Sandy Stone who adopted Shelalegh back in April. She reported that Shelalegh, now Raven is doing very well. She has discovered her prey drive and is very interested in what the squirrels are doing. Raven and her two male siblings go to doggy daycare once a week and all three come home tired and worn out - a good benefit! Raven is very sweet and well-mannered. Sandy's other two terriers have not engaged her in play, but Sandy feels it should be very soon. Sandy fell and broke her hand and nose (ouch!) so she hasn't been able to type very well.
Howard Update
From Mary Jean, Howard's PAC:
Monday night I spoke with Paul DiPasquale who adopted Howard in May. Paul is very happy with Howard and described him as a delightful dog. He is very good on walks and is friendly with everyone he meets. Howard has no housebreaking issues and doesn't seem to mind when Paul is away at work. Paul has a pet sitter when he travels and the pet sitter loves Howard, too. (Personally, I think Howard is one of the cutest cairns to come through CP this year. I love the dark ones!) Paul is interested in attending the CRAP being held in Rome, NY, so I will send him some information.
Monday night I spoke with Paul DiPasquale who adopted Howard in May. Paul is very happy with Howard and described him as a delightful dog. He is very good on walks and is friendly with everyone he meets. Howard has no housebreaking issues and doesn't seem to mind when Paul is away at work. Paul has a pet sitter when he travels and the pet sitter loves Howard, too. (Personally, I think Howard is one of the cutest cairns to come through CP this year. I love the dark ones!) Paul is interested in attending the CRAP being held in Rome, NY, so I will send him some information.
Organizations that Offer Help with Pet Medical Expenses
Thanks to Patti for crossposting this information!!
Blind Dogs
IMOM Blind Dogs Fund: http://www.imom.org/fa/contact.htm
GENERAL
In Memory of Magic (IMOM) is dedicated to insuring that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged. http://www.imom.org IMOM, Inc PO Box 282 Cheltenham, MD 20623 Phone (866)-230-2164 Fax (301)-599-1852
United Animal Nations established the LifeLine fund in 1997 to aid companion animals in times of life-threatening emergencies when their caregivers, with low or no incomes, are unable to afford the entire cost of treatment. http://uan.org/lifeline/index.html United Animal Nations P.O. Box 188890 Sacramento, California 95818 Telephone: (916) 429 2457 fax: (916) 429 2456 LifeLine Fund - http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=28
Help-A-Pet is a nonprofit organization, which provides financial assistance for the medical care of pets whose guardians are unable to afford the expense http://www.help-a-pet.org/home..html Help-A-Pet P. O. Box 244 Hinsdale, Illinois 60521 Telephone: (630) 986-9504 fax: (630) 986-9141
Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Programs provides financial assistance for emergency medical care for cats. http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/ FVEAP 1641 Elizabeth Lane Yuba City, CA 95993 Fax: 888-301-4264
DISEASE-SPECIFIC
Diabetes
IMOM Diabetic Pet Fund http://www.imom.org/diabetic-pets
Diabetic Pet Fund: http://www.petdiabetes.net/fund/
Special Needs cats
Cats in Crisis: http://www.catsincrisis.org/crisisFund.html
Blind Dogs
IMOM Blind Dogs Fund: http://www.imom.org/fa/contact.htm
Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)
IMOM Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) Kitties Fund http://www.imom.org/funds/crf.htm
Cats in Crisis Mesa Fund http://www.catsincrisis.org/mesaFund.html
Cats - Heart and Thyroid
Cats in Crisis Stripes Fund http://www.catsincrisis.org/stripesFund.html
Cats - Neurological conditions and mobility impairments
Cats in Crisis Gillie Fund http://www.catsincrisis.org/gillieFund.html
ASSISTANCE DOGS
Assistance Dog Partners http://www.iaadp.org/VCP.html
FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS (Specific animals needing veterinary care):
http://www.catsincrisis.org/ http://www.imom.org
BREED-SPECIFIC
If you have a specific breed of dog, contact the national club for that breed. In some cases, these clubs offer a veterinary financial assistance fund. Here are a few websites for groups that provide financial assistance for specific breeds:
Bernese Mountain Dog http://www.behaf.org/help.html
Corgi http://www.corgiaid.org/
Doberman (special needs) http://www.doberman911.org/
Great Pyrenees http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/pyramedic/summary.html
Labrador Retriever http://www.labmed.org http://www.labradorlifeline.org/
Pit Bull/Staffordshire Terrier http://www.pbrc.net/fund/financial.html
Westies http://www.westiemed.com/
American Animal Hospital Association http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/home/ "The heartbreak happens all too often ? a pet owner is unable to afford treatment and their sick or injured companion animal pays the price. If the owner is elderly, disabled or on a fixed income, the cost of care may be too much of a stretch for their pocketbook. Perhaps they have been victimized by crime, property loss or a job layoff and are experiencing a temporary financial hardship ? making it too difficult to afford pet care. And some animals, brought to clinics by Good Samaritans, don't have an owner to pay for treatment. Whatever the situation, the fact remains the same: When sick or injured animals are unable to receive veterinary care, they suffer. Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship."
Angels 4 Animals www.Angels4Animals.org "Angels4Animals, a non-profit organization and a program of Inner Voice Community Services, has a mission to serve as the guardian angel of animals whose caretakers find themselves in difficult financial situations. At Angels4Animals we believe that animal owners should not have to say goodbye to the animals that they love. Our work is accomplished in conjunction with veterinary clinics across the country, eager to assist as many animals, and their owners, as possible. Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment to those pets and pet owners in need."
Care Credit www.carecredit.com A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care. "CareCredit, the leader in patient/client financing, has helped more than 3 million patients/clients get the treatment or procedures they needed and wanted. With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, we offer a plan and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every budget."
Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP) http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/ "The NEED & The HELP: Seniors, People with disabilities, People who have lost their job, Good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten - any of these folks may need financial assistance to save a beloved companion."
The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.
Help-A-Pet http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html "Our efforts focus on serving the elderly, the disabled, and the working poor. For lonely seniors, physically/mentally challenged individuals and children of working parents, pets represent much more than a diversion."
IMOM http://www.imom.org "Mission Statement: Helping people help pets. To better the lives of sick, injured and abused companion animals. We are dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged."
The Pet Fund http://thepetfund.com/ "The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need urgent veterinary care. Often animals are put down or suffer needlessly because their owners cannot afford expensive surgery or emergency vet visits. Companion animal owners must often make the difficult decision to put an animal down or neglect urgent medical needs because of the costs involved. The purpose of the Pet Fund is to work towards a future where decisions about companion animal medical care need never be made on the basis of cost."
United Animal Nations http://www.uan.org/lifeline/index.html "The mission of LifeLine is to help homeless or recently rescued animals suffering from life-threatening conditions that require specific and immediate emergency veterinary care. We strive to serve Good Samaritans and rescue groups who take in sick or injured animals. In certain cases, LifeLine can also assist senior citizens and low-income families pay for immediate emergency veterinary care."
UK Assistance with Veterinary Bills http://www.petloversonline.co.uk/financial.htm "Most of us can cope with the financial commitment involved in the day to day care of our pets. However, how many of us come out in a cold sweat when our pet is ill or injured and we know we have to take it to the vet? Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to afford it but, some of us who love our animals dearly cannot. Unfortunately we do not have a PDSA or a RSPCA Centre within our area, but there are a few charities who may be able to help."
Other Groups Who are Breed or Injury Specific:
Corgi Aid http://www.corgiaid.org/
Dachshunds Needing IVDD surgery http://members.rushmore.com/~dds/applyforhelp.htm <http://members.rushmore.com/%7Edds/applyforhelp.htm>
HandicappedPets.com http://www.handicappedpets.com/Articles/help/ "From time to time, HandicappedPets.com recognizes a caretaker of handicapped pets that need some special attention, and a little extra help. There are those who are so selflessly dedicated to their animal families that they give up a little more than they can afford."
Labrador Lifeline http://www.labradorlifeline.org/success/2005-abbey.htm
LabMed: Rx For Rescued Labs http://www.labmed.org/aid_main.html
Blind Dogs
IMOM Blind Dogs Fund: http://www.imom.org/fa/contact.htm
GENERAL
In Memory of Magic (IMOM) is dedicated to insuring that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged. http://www.imom.org IMOM, Inc PO Box 282 Cheltenham, MD 20623 Phone (866)-230-2164 Fax (301)-599-1852
United Animal Nations established the LifeLine fund in 1997 to aid companion animals in times of life-threatening emergencies when their caregivers, with low or no incomes, are unable to afford the entire cost of treatment. http://uan.org/lifeline/index.html United Animal Nations P.O. Box 188890 Sacramento, California 95818 Telephone: (916) 429 2457 fax: (916) 429 2456 LifeLine Fund - http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=28
Help-A-Pet is a nonprofit organization, which provides financial assistance for the medical care of pets whose guardians are unable to afford the expense http://www.help-a-pet.org/home..html Help-A-Pet P. O. Box 244 Hinsdale, Illinois 60521 Telephone: (630) 986-9504 fax: (630) 986-9141
Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Programs provides financial assistance for emergency medical care for cats. http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/ FVEAP 1641 Elizabeth Lane Yuba City, CA 95993 Fax: 888-301-4264
DISEASE-SPECIFIC
Diabetes
IMOM Diabetic Pet Fund http://www.imom.org/diabetic-pets
Diabetic Pet Fund: http://www.petdiabetes.net/fund/
Special Needs cats
Cats in Crisis: http://www.catsincrisis.org/crisisFund.html
Blind Dogs
IMOM Blind Dogs Fund: http://www.imom.org/fa/contact.htm
Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)
IMOM Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) Kitties Fund http://www.imom.org/funds/crf.htm
Cats in Crisis Mesa Fund http://www.catsincrisis.org/mesaFund.html
Cats - Heart and Thyroid
Cats in Crisis Stripes Fund http://www.catsincrisis.org/stripesFund.html
Cats - Neurological conditions and mobility impairments
Cats in Crisis Gillie Fund http://www.catsincrisis.org/gillieFund.html
ASSISTANCE DOGS
Assistance Dog Partners http://www.iaadp.org/VCP.html
FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS (Specific animals needing veterinary care):
http://www.catsincrisis.org/ http://www.imom.org
BREED-SPECIFIC
If you have a specific breed of dog, contact the national club for that breed. In some cases, these clubs offer a veterinary financial assistance fund. Here are a few websites for groups that provide financial assistance for specific breeds:
Bernese Mountain Dog http://www.behaf.org/help.html
Corgi http://www.corgiaid.org/
Doberman (special needs) http://www.doberman911.org/
Great Pyrenees http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/pyramedic/summary.html
Labrador Retriever http://www.labmed.org http://www.labradorlifeline.org/
Pit Bull/Staffordshire Terrier http://www.pbrc.net/fund/financial.html
Westies http://www.westiemed.com/
American Animal Hospital Association http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/home/ "The heartbreak happens all too often ? a pet owner is unable to afford treatment and their sick or injured companion animal pays the price. If the owner is elderly, disabled or on a fixed income, the cost of care may be too much of a stretch for their pocketbook. Perhaps they have been victimized by crime, property loss or a job layoff and are experiencing a temporary financial hardship ? making it too difficult to afford pet care. And some animals, brought to clinics by Good Samaritans, don't have an owner to pay for treatment. Whatever the situation, the fact remains the same: When sick or injured animals are unable to receive veterinary care, they suffer. Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship."
Angels 4 Animals www.Angels4Animals.org "Angels4Animals, a non-profit organization and a program of Inner Voice Community Services, has a mission to serve as the guardian angel of animals whose caretakers find themselves in difficult financial situations. At Angels4Animals we believe that animal owners should not have to say goodbye to the animals that they love. Our work is accomplished in conjunction with veterinary clinics across the country, eager to assist as many animals, and their owners, as possible. Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment to those pets and pet owners in need."
Care Credit www.carecredit.com A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care. "CareCredit, the leader in patient/client financing, has helped more than 3 million patients/clients get the treatment or procedures they needed and wanted. With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, we offer a plan and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every budget."
Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP) http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/ "The NEED & The HELP: Seniors, People with disabilities, People who have lost their job, Good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten - any of these folks may need financial assistance to save a beloved companion."
The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.
Help-A-Pet http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html "Our efforts focus on serving the elderly, the disabled, and the working poor. For lonely seniors, physically/mentally challenged individuals and children of working parents, pets represent much more than a diversion."
IMOM http://www.imom.org "Mission Statement: Helping people help pets. To better the lives of sick, injured and abused companion animals. We are dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged."
The Pet Fund http://thepetfund.com/ "The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need urgent veterinary care. Often animals are put down or suffer needlessly because their owners cannot afford expensive surgery or emergency vet visits. Companion animal owners must often make the difficult decision to put an animal down or neglect urgent medical needs because of the costs involved. The purpose of the Pet Fund is to work towards a future where decisions about companion animal medical care need never be made on the basis of cost."
United Animal Nations http://www.uan.org/lifeline/index.html "The mission of LifeLine is to help homeless or recently rescued animals suffering from life-threatening conditions that require specific and immediate emergency veterinary care. We strive to serve Good Samaritans and rescue groups who take in sick or injured animals. In certain cases, LifeLine can also assist senior citizens and low-income families pay for immediate emergency veterinary care."
UK Assistance with Veterinary Bills http://www.petloversonline.co.uk/financial.htm "Most of us can cope with the financial commitment involved in the day to day care of our pets. However, how many of us come out in a cold sweat when our pet is ill or injured and we know we have to take it to the vet? Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to afford it but, some of us who love our animals dearly cannot. Unfortunately we do not have a PDSA or a RSPCA Centre within our area, but there are a few charities who may be able to help."
Other Groups Who are Breed or Injury Specific:
Corgi Aid http://www.corgiaid.org/
Dachshunds Needing IVDD surgery http://members.rushmore.com/~dds/applyforhelp.htm <http://members.rushmore.com/%7Edds/applyforhelp.htm>
HandicappedPets.com http://www.handicappedpets.com/Articles/help/ "From time to time, HandicappedPets.com recognizes a caretaker of handicapped pets that need some special attention, and a little extra help. There are those who are so selflessly dedicated to their animal families that they give up a little more than they can afford."
Labrador Lifeline http://www.labradorlifeline.org/success/2005-abbey.htm
LabMed: Rx For Rescued Labs http://www.labmed.org/aid_main.html
Meatloaf - A Foster Flunkee
Meatloaf was a former pet store puppy who found his way to Colonel Potter when his family moved. He had been in his foster home just a short time when foster dad decided this boy was already home and would be going no where else. Thankfully the matchmakers agreed that he could stay. Since then he has been having the time of his life! This guy loves nothing better than playing with water and once flooded the kitchen while playing in his water bowl. He now finds himself living on a lake and while he is not fond of being submerged in the water he does love playing in the shallows and chasing the floating toys in the kiddie pool. His very favorite activity is chasing the spray from the hose...fun, fun, fun! He also loves zooming with his westie brother and cairn sister, adores the little grand child who visits weekly and thinks boat rides are the absolute best! Every day is a new adventure for this boy and he constantly brings smiles to the faces of his family.
Rooster Cogburn Update
Rooster Cogburn was a sad and stinky little boy in a shelter when he was discovered by Colonel Potter. He came in as a guardian angel dog due to his numerous health issues including bladder stones and a severely damaged eye which had to be removed. He was an older dog who would need a special diet and we all worried about this sweet little one eyed dog ever finding a forever home. Silly us!
He was spotted on the website by his wonderful forever mom who knew immediately that nothing would do but for this little guy to be hers. The rest of the family agreed that he was the perfect one for them and happily foster mom and the matchmakers thought so too! In no time at all Rooster was packed off with his new family to live in VA.
Recently his mom reported that he is healthy, happy, and enjoying his summer at the shore and...he is truly the "Prince" among a family of sisters, both the fur kind and human. His dad is also very, very happy to finally have another male in the house. His mom said Rooster now has a spring in his step, smiles all the time, enjoys going for long walks on the beach and is loved by all who meet him. Happy forever little man!
He was spotted on the website by his wonderful forever mom who knew immediately that nothing would do but for this little guy to be hers. The rest of the family agreed that he was the perfect one for them and happily foster mom and the matchmakers thought so too! In no time at all Rooster was packed off with his new family to live in VA.
Recently his mom reported that he is healthy, happy, and enjoying his summer at the shore and...he is truly the "Prince" among a family of sisters, both the fur kind and human. His dad is also very, very happy to finally have another male in the house. His mom said Rooster now has a spring in his step, smiles all the time, enjoys going for long walks on the beach and is loved by all who meet him. Happy forever little man!
Andy (fka Barrett) Update
MatchMaker Sydney received the following update from Barrett, now Andy's family:
It looks like you're a pretty good matchmaker! We met with Deb and Jim on Saturday in Little Rock to pick up Barrett. His new name is Andrew (Andy). He is a real sweetie!
Deb and Jim did a great job with him--he is comfortable with me, my husband, and both Scooter and Piper. I really appreciate all the hard work they put in getting him ready for a forever home. Scooter and Piper went with us to pick up Andy. They got acquainted walking at the rest stops. In the hotel, they interacted really well--no problems.
Piper was a little standoffish -- Andy didn't mind because he was focused on Scooter, who tolerated all the pestering quite well! Now that we are home (for less than 24 hrs), Scooter has let Andy know a couple of times when he's had enough!
The only issue Piper has with him involves toys, but that will work itself out.Anyway, thanks for all your hard work. As you know, I didn't start out with a puppy in mind. But I think it's great because he's not fully molded--he will learn a lot from Scooter and Piper. I know that an adult dog would also, but in a different way.
Thanks! Linda
It looks like you're a pretty good matchmaker! We met with Deb and Jim on Saturday in Little Rock to pick up Barrett. His new name is Andrew (Andy). He is a real sweetie!
Deb and Jim did a great job with him--he is comfortable with me, my husband, and both Scooter and Piper. I really appreciate all the hard work they put in getting him ready for a forever home. Scooter and Piper went with us to pick up Andy. They got acquainted walking at the rest stops. In the hotel, they interacted really well--no problems.
Piper was a little standoffish -- Andy didn't mind because he was focused on Scooter, who tolerated all the pestering quite well! Now that we are home (for less than 24 hrs), Scooter has let Andy know a couple of times when he's had enough!
The only issue Piper has with him involves toys, but that will work itself out.Anyway, thanks for all your hard work. As you know, I didn't start out with a puppy in mind. But I think it's great because he's not fully molded--he will learn a lot from Scooter and Piper. I know that an adult dog would also, but in a different way.
Thanks! Linda
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Barrett is now Andy
Saturday was Barrett's (now Andy) adoption day. Here's a pic of him with his new parents.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Leo Does Doggie Summer Camp!
Bobbie sent an update on her former foster Ambrose, who is now known as Leo. Leo originally came into rescue as an owner surrender because of his extreme storm phobia. It took a bit of work but his mom and dad report that he rarely even reacts to storms at all anymore and has turned into a very happy and self assured little boy.
He recently spent a week with his former foster parents at Doggie Summer Camp on Lake Harding while his family went out of town. Leo arrived at his old foster home, threw down his bags, greeted the three resident dogs and hopped right up in foster mom's chair. He had a great week zooming with the residents who clearly remembered him, participated in brisk games of "Diving for carrots" in the kiddie pool, went boating on the lake and spent a good bit of time lounging around the grill while foster dad cooked. His favorite activity of all was playing with his buddy Meatloaf. He looked just beautiful and is clearly happy and well loved in his forever home. Foster mom and dad hope he will be back for the camping experience next year.
Here are Leo and Meatloaf enjoying a boatride...that's Leo on the left.
Bobbie also spoke with Rooster Cogburn's mom (was hoping they'd make it to NY for crap) and she said he is absolutely perfect! He has settled in, seems to realize he has reached the end of the road and is in his forever home, and her whole family adores him. She said he is soooo happy to see everyone who comes through the door. They apparently have a busy household and he loves it.
Rooster is special to both of us - I pulled him from the Jax shelter and he received excellent medical care from Drs. Jones, Waters & Staff here in Jax; Bobbie expertly fostered Rooster!
He recently spent a week with his former foster parents at Doggie Summer Camp on Lake Harding while his family went out of town. Leo arrived at his old foster home, threw down his bags, greeted the three resident dogs and hopped right up in foster mom's chair. He had a great week zooming with the residents who clearly remembered him, participated in brisk games of "Diving for carrots" in the kiddie pool, went boating on the lake and spent a good bit of time lounging around the grill while foster dad cooked. His favorite activity of all was playing with his buddy Meatloaf. He looked just beautiful and is clearly happy and well loved in his forever home. Foster mom and dad hope he will be back for the camping experience next year.
Here are Leo and Meatloaf enjoying a boatride...that's Leo on the left.
Bobbie also spoke with Rooster Cogburn's mom (was hoping they'd make it to NY for crap) and she said he is absolutely perfect! He has settled in, seems to realize he has reached the end of the road and is in his forever home, and her whole family adores him. She said he is soooo happy to see everyone who comes through the door. They apparently have a busy household and he loves it.
Rooster is special to both of us - I pulled him from the Jax shelter and he received excellent medical care from Drs. Jones, Waters & Staff here in Jax; Bobbie expertly fostered Rooster!
About Wellington - Going Home Soon
Usually, we don't post updates until the kids are in their forever homes. But Kathy's post about Wellington is too touching not to share! And Wellington will be in his loving forever home very soon and you'll have an even better appreciation for what these kids endure.
I don't know if I ever posted a thank you to Deirdre for Wellington's beautiful blanket. She sent it with him on his transport to me just about 6 weeks ago.
Six weeks ago, this boy went in his crate at the vet's office head first and rode the first three hours of his transport too scared to turn around and face the world. Tomorrow he's going to his Forever Home in Kansas City.
We are meeting his mom, Peggy Lewis, and brother, Winston, a nine year old cairn who just lost his brother Christopher in April.
Christopher needed a buddy after losing his brother to cancer - he's moped around the house looking for him ever since. So Peggy found CP, and she said when she saw Wellington, she knew he was the one :-)
This will be foster number eight for me to have adopted in the last eleven months, and only the second time I've got to meet the new family. So even though I'm sad about him leaving, I'm thrilled he'll have a buddy to help him continue on his journey realizing what joys life holds for him outside a puppy mill and that awful cage in a barn he was in for three years.
He's come a long way in those six weeks - he enjoys the human touch instead of flinching when a hand comes his way. He loves laying on the couch next to me, and he'll even seek me out in the rest of the house.
Since Randall came almost two weeks ago, we've been working him into the kitchen to eat his meals with the other dogs - a very scary step for a boy unsure of himself and scared of the slightest noises like the other kid's tags hitting their bowls and the bowls themselves scooting across the floor as they're emptied.
He still can't walk on a leash - you're like a puppeteer moving him where you want him to be, and he can come in thru the doorway from outside if you prop the screen open and move out of the way, but he can't go out as it's still just too scary. But his new mom knows of his fears and is willing to work with him thru them until he finds that peace inside to have that true Cairn spirit.
Thank you, Auntie Deirdre, for his lovely blanket and for rescuing him from Hell. . . . . . . Kathy H in MO
I don't know if I ever posted a thank you to Deirdre for Wellington's beautiful blanket. She sent it with him on his transport to me just about 6 weeks ago.
Six weeks ago, this boy went in his crate at the vet's office head first and rode the first three hours of his transport too scared to turn around and face the world. Tomorrow he's going to his Forever Home in Kansas City.
We are meeting his mom, Peggy Lewis, and brother, Winston, a nine year old cairn who just lost his brother Christopher in April.
Christopher needed a buddy after losing his brother to cancer - he's moped around the house looking for him ever since. So Peggy found CP, and she said when she saw Wellington, she knew he was the one :-)
This will be foster number eight for me to have adopted in the last eleven months, and only the second time I've got to meet the new family. So even though I'm sad about him leaving, I'm thrilled he'll have a buddy to help him continue on his journey realizing what joys life holds for him outside a puppy mill and that awful cage in a barn he was in for three years.
He's come a long way in those six weeks - he enjoys the human touch instead of flinching when a hand comes his way. He loves laying on the couch next to me, and he'll even seek me out in the rest of the house.
Since Randall came almost two weeks ago, we've been working him into the kitchen to eat his meals with the other dogs - a very scary step for a boy unsure of himself and scared of the slightest noises like the other kid's tags hitting their bowls and the bowls themselves scooting across the floor as they're emptied.
He still can't walk on a leash - you're like a puppeteer moving him where you want him to be, and he can come in thru the doorway from outside if you prop the screen open and move out of the way, but he can't go out as it's still just too scary. But his new mom knows of his fears and is willing to work with him thru them until he finds that peace inside to have that true Cairn spirit.
Thank you, Auntie Deirdre, for his lovely blanket and for rescuing him from Hell. . . . . . . Kathy H in MO
Newman Arrives at His Forever Home - from Mom Mo
First I want to publicly thank all of the many, many volunteers who helped bring my little man home. This was a long transport and you all made it seem so easy.
I know Marge was worried but not me, I know our teams handle each and every baby as if it were their own and this was no different. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Now, Mr. Newman is currently occupying a large expen in my cool bedroom, babygated from the mob for now and has eaten supper and sucked down a half bowl of water with gusto. He seems a bit stressed but I guess I would be too if I traveled the distance he has in a crate.
He is currently communicating with Lily through the babygate. She just does not understand why he cannot come out and play right now! There will be plenty of time for that, he needs to settle a bit and we will see how the introductions go on a one on one basis tomorrow or the next day.
Every member of the herd has taken a turn at sniffing at the gate and cocking their heads looking at their new brother. I can forsee no problems integrating him in with all of them. He will need to be watched carefully to make sure no one gets rough with him.
Thank you, Marge, for doing such a wonderful job fostering him and agreeing to let him go - I know that must have been difficult.
Mo
I know Marge was worried but not me, I know our teams handle each and every baby as if it were their own and this was no different. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Now, Mr. Newman is currently occupying a large expen in my cool bedroom, babygated from the mob for now and has eaten supper and sucked down a half bowl of water with gusto. He seems a bit stressed but I guess I would be too if I traveled the distance he has in a crate.
He is currently communicating with Lily through the babygate. She just does not understand why he cannot come out and play right now! There will be plenty of time for that, he needs to settle a bit and we will see how the introductions go on a one on one basis tomorrow or the next day.
Every member of the herd has taken a turn at sniffing at the gate and cocking their heads looking at their new brother. I can forsee no problems integrating him in with all of them. He will need to be watched carefully to make sure no one gets rough with him.
Thank you, Marge, for doing such a wonderful job fostering him and agreeing to let him go - I know that must have been difficult.
Mo
Update on Laurie in Michigan
Laurie (part of the Revolutionary group) is now living in MI with Jill and Don and furbrother Toby!! Laurie didn't take to Don all that much, but they said Toby is the same way so he will be the feeder and treat-giver in the house! I have received two emails from Jill so far. Laurie at first didn't like Toby at all, growling and such so of course they kept them separated. Jill said that Laurie cried for about the first hour or so on the way home but finally settled in. Jill said she is a climber as they babygated her in a room, Jill came around the corner to find her halfway out, put her back in and came back five minutes later to find her out and she and Toby sniffing each other and acting like they are life long friends. She signed off by saying they were both sitting between them on the couch!! This may be a little more difficult transition than Jill was expecting, but it sounds like they are on the right path! They were both wonderful to meet and I know that Laurie is definitely going to be a princess in the house!!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
May 2008 Adoptions
Nala in NJ
Howard in NY
Mona in SC
Graham in TX
Dagny in MI
Hedda in BC
Beacon in IN
Jersey in MA
Kale in VA
Emmylou in IN
Obama now Maggie in KS
Kirsty in MD
Banjo in PA
Nigel Thomas in OH
Carissa now Chloe in FL
Galileo in MI
Clinton in MI
Cutty in MI
Frost in NY
Imena in NJ
Badger in WI
Snickerdoodle in VT
Gingerbread in NY
Hunter in TX
Mickey D in TX
Reggiano in IN
Cormick in PA
Hannukah in MO
Dunham in KS
Howard in NY
Mona in SC
Graham in TX
Dagny in MI
Hedda in BC
Beacon in IN
Jersey in MA
Kale in VA
Emmylou in IN
Obama now Maggie in KS
Kirsty in MD
Banjo in PA
Nigel Thomas in OH
Carissa now Chloe in FL
Galileo in MI
Clinton in MI
Cutty in MI
Frost in NY
Imena in NJ
Badger in WI
Snickerdoodle in VT
Gingerbread in NY
Hunter in TX
Mickey D in TX
Reggiano in IN
Cormick in PA
Hannukah in MO
Dunham in KS
Gingerbread Update
Hi, Ginger is doing fine. I took her to the vet yesterday and all is well. She only weighs 15.5 lbs. but I'm sure she will gain weight slowly, the vet said she should gain 2-3 lbs. She loves the backyard and this morning it was raining when I let her out to go to the bathroom but she ran back and forth several times and didn't want to come in. She finally came in and then sat by the door until I let her out again. She is very sweet and lovable. She sleeps now with my son on his bed but her crate is on the floor so if she wants to go in she can. We are very happy. I will keep in touch. Sincerely, Jodi
Update on Banjo #3203
I spoke with Erica this evening. Banjo is doing very well. He has settled in as part of the family. He sleeps with the daughter, but sometimes comes in with Erica and Rudy. He has a little anxiety when left, but that seems to be getting better. Erica was concerned that he did not eat well in the morning the first week, but that is improving as well. They talked to Becky and decided to leave the food down so that he could eat freely. She is scheduling his meet with the vet next week. They absolutely love him. Erica said that Banjo is a wonderful dog. They are keeping his name.
Aisling, Class of February 2006
I just received this from Linda: By the way, Aisling (rescued Nov. 2005; adopted by us Feb. 2006) is doing great. She just went to the groomer's on Monday so she's a clean gal to go see her "grandma" in Cleveland.
Snickerdoodle Update
Well, I never thought I would have the chance to say this but I got to go see Snicks in his new home - 2 weeks anniversary tomorrow!! How great is it having a long-time foster living nearby - I'll tell you, it is beyond great.
I had ordered a bottle of Frageria for his new Mom so that was my "excuse" to stop by and get an update and of course a hug from my favorite foster Boy. He is doing SO super - I think he was actually worried I was going to make him leave... LOL. At first he was a little shy but all of a sudden he realized it was me and I got a wonderful greeting.
Of course his new brother, Brodie who's just a baby (1.5 years) had to get in on the action. They are becoming best buddies and play together and sleep up in the window together. And at night they get beds put on their Mom and Dad's bed and they sleep together all night too. Then we all went down and checked out the completely fenced in backyard which was 3/4 done when I did the home visit. Snicks Mom said they just love it and are constantly racing around - they even had a bunny trapped one day before she took pity on it and put them in the house so the rabbit could escape. She said Snicks sat near the place where the bunny disappeared for AGES - that boy always did have a good prey drive.
She is very much in love - he is the perfect dog - she wanted a cuddler, which Brodie is not and she sure got one with Snicks. He is no longer following her every time she moves which is probably a good thing - that also means he is more comfortable in his surroundings. And get this, my little guy who was always so scared on walks and also scared of younger kids, has at least one walk every day and LOVES it and he is learning to be friends with the kids in the neighborhood - slowly - still a little cautious but he does that - he just needs a little time to adjust to anything. He had a great report at the vets. Allyson has gotten all the grooming supplies (Thanks Danielle for getting her order to her so fast!) - table, Coat King, etc. and can't wait to learn to take care of their coats - Brodie is in need of some grooming. She also uses the grooming table to put him up and brush his teeth daily.
His two new human siblings who are older teens, love him too and he is crazy about them. I couldn't have found a more perfect home for him if I walked around and hand picked this one. I'm so blessed these folks just happened to be looking for a dog and he was not just scooped up because he was a prize. And he must have been in foster care longer just so the perfect family - HIS family could come along and find him. And of course they have my offer to pet sit he and Brodie ANYTIME...
Susan in Vermont
I had ordered a bottle of Frageria for his new Mom so that was my "excuse" to stop by and get an update and of course a hug from my favorite foster Boy. He is doing SO super - I think he was actually worried I was going to make him leave... LOL. At first he was a little shy but all of a sudden he realized it was me and I got a wonderful greeting.
Of course his new brother, Brodie who's just a baby (1.5 years) had to get in on the action. They are becoming best buddies and play together and sleep up in the window together. And at night they get beds put on their Mom and Dad's bed and they sleep together all night too. Then we all went down and checked out the completely fenced in backyard which was 3/4 done when I did the home visit. Snicks Mom said they just love it and are constantly racing around - they even had a bunny trapped one day before she took pity on it and put them in the house so the rabbit could escape. She said Snicks sat near the place where the bunny disappeared for AGES - that boy always did have a good prey drive.
She is very much in love - he is the perfect dog - she wanted a cuddler, which Brodie is not and she sure got one with Snicks. He is no longer following her every time she moves which is probably a good thing - that also means he is more comfortable in his surroundings. And get this, my little guy who was always so scared on walks and also scared of younger kids, has at least one walk every day and LOVES it and he is learning to be friends with the kids in the neighborhood - slowly - still a little cautious but he does that - he just needs a little time to adjust to anything. He had a great report at the vets. Allyson has gotten all the grooming supplies (Thanks Danielle for getting her order to her so fast!) - table, Coat King, etc. and can't wait to learn to take care of their coats - Brodie is in need of some grooming. She also uses the grooming table to put him up and brush his teeth daily.
His two new human siblings who are older teens, love him too and he is crazy about them. I couldn't have found a more perfect home for him if I walked around and hand picked this one. I'm so blessed these folks just happened to be looking for a dog and he was not just scooped up because he was a prize. And he must have been in foster care longer just so the perfect family - HIS family could come along and find him. And of course they have my offer to pet sit he and Brodie ANYTIME...
Susan in Vermont
Angus (fka Agassi) is Home
Agassi (now Angus) went to his forever home yesterday. His new mom, Sheila, loves him so much already. Angus has a new brother, a ten year old Westie named MacKenzie. A big thank you to Valerie, Stacey, Allison, and the many others who helped get him there! Here is a picture of him with mom Sheila.
Zuri is in Her Forever Home
Thanks to all who helped in approving our request to flunk! Zuri is officially home! She is the Cairn/Pom mix with diabetes and pancreatic insufficiency who was kept outside on an Illinois farm and slept in a barn.
Through a lot of detective work and with the help of a great vet, we found the diabetes diagnosis was wrong (a lab error!). The EPI (pancreatic failure) is chronic and incurable - but treatable. She'll need enzymes mixed in every morsel of food that goes in her mouth the rest of her life. She has to have 4 meals per day and be monitored carefully for complications. Already, the diarrhea has stopped and she's putting some meat on her skinny bones. For all she's been through, she's a sassy, sweet girl.
Vet said Zuri would not have survived another 90 days if she hadn't been rescued. Thank you, Col. Potter!
Cheryl (Norry, Cassie, Beanie, Mac, AND ZURI)
Through a lot of detective work and with the help of a great vet, we found the diabetes diagnosis was wrong (a lab error!). The EPI (pancreatic failure) is chronic and incurable - but treatable. She'll need enzymes mixed in every morsel of food that goes in her mouth the rest of her life. She has to have 4 meals per day and be monitored carefully for complications. Already, the diarrhea has stopped and she's putting some meat on her skinny bones. For all she's been through, she's a sassy, sweet girl.
Vet said Zuri would not have survived another 90 days if she hadn't been rescued. Thank you, Col. Potter!
Cheryl (Norry, Cassie, Beanie, Mac, AND ZURI)
The Rescuer's Final Reward
Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray. All the recent arrivals at the Bridge did not know what to think, as they had never seen such a day. But the animals who had been waiting longer for their beloved people to accompany them across the Bridge knew what was happening, and they began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge.
Soon an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. He approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he was in great emotional pain. Unlike the animals gathered along the pathway, he had not been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at the Bridge. He felt out of place, and wanted only to cross over and find happiness.
But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog could not cross over. Only those animals accompanied by their people were allowed to cross the Bridge. Having nobody, and with nowhere else to turn, the dog trudged into the field in front of the Bridge.
There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and discouraged. Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge, these animals were not running or playing. They simply were lying in the grass,staring forlornly at the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting, yet not knowingfor what he was waiting.
One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there longer to explain what was happening. The cat replied, 'Those poor animals were abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never found a home on earth. They all passed on with only the love of a rescuer to comfort them. Because they had no people to love them, they have nobody to escort them across the Rainbow Bridge.'
The dog asked the cat, 'So what will happen to those animals?' Before the cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to bright sunshine. The cat replied, 'Watch, and you will see.'
In the distance was a single person, and as he approached the Bridge the old, infirm and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light. They were at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their fate would be. The animals who had previously gathered at the pathway bowed their heads as the person approached. At each bowed head, the person offered a scratch or hug. One by one, the now youthful and healthy animals from the field fell into line behind the person. Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness and unquestioned love.
The dog asked the cat, 'What just happened?' The cat responded, 'That was a rescuer. The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had found their forever homes because of rescuers. They will cross over when their people arrive at the Bridge. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor animals they couldn't place on earth across the Rainbow Bridge.'
The dog thought for a moment, then said, 'I like rescuers.' The cat smiled and replied, 'So does heaven, my friend. So does heaven!'
Soon an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. He approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he was in great emotional pain. Unlike the animals gathered along the pathway, he had not been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at the Bridge. He felt out of place, and wanted only to cross over and find happiness.
But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog could not cross over. Only those animals accompanied by their people were allowed to cross the Bridge. Having nobody, and with nowhere else to turn, the dog trudged into the field in front of the Bridge.
There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and discouraged. Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge, these animals were not running or playing. They simply were lying in the grass,staring forlornly at the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting, yet not knowingfor what he was waiting.
One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there longer to explain what was happening. The cat replied, 'Those poor animals were abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never found a home on earth. They all passed on with only the love of a rescuer to comfort them. Because they had no people to love them, they have nobody to escort them across the Rainbow Bridge.'
The dog asked the cat, 'So what will happen to those animals?' Before the cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to bright sunshine. The cat replied, 'Watch, and you will see.'
In the distance was a single person, and as he approached the Bridge the old, infirm and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light. They were at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their fate would be. The animals who had previously gathered at the pathway bowed their heads as the person approached. At each bowed head, the person offered a scratch or hug. One by one, the now youthful and healthy animals from the field fell into line behind the person. Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness and unquestioned love.
The dog asked the cat, 'What just happened?' The cat responded, 'That was a rescuer. The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had found their forever homes because of rescuers. They will cross over when their people arrive at the Bridge. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor animals they couldn't place on earth across the Rainbow Bridge.'
The dog thought for a moment, then said, 'I like rescuers.' The cat smiled and replied, 'So does heaven, my friend. So does heaven!'
Update on Chloe (fka Carissa)
Chloe is doing wonderfully in her home. For a seven-month old, she is learning very well. Has some potty accidents, but is making progress. Because of her age they leave her in a large crate when gone and will gradually increase her freedom as she matures. She and the resident Yorkie (about 2 yrs) play very well. After a few days, the Yorkie taught Chloe to play tug of war, chase, and tumble. These two girls seem to be getting along well and are becoming best buddies. Gary said that Chloe actually listens to "no" and is eager to please. They will be meeting the vet in the next week or so. Chloe is doing well with routine. She loves to go on walks in the morning and evening. I stressed using two leashes.Chloe has started guarding her home. I could hear her barking in the background while looking out the window at passersby. Gary said that they are absolutely thrilled with her, and she has brought such joy and fun to the home.
Update on Skylar (previously Dagny)
Hi to everyone-
Just thought I'd send an update, Skylar was neutered yesterday, so we'll be sending the documentation out for that. He did just fine, was a little wobbly, woozy and sleepy afterward but is back to his normal Cairn self this morning.
At six months, he is now 7.5 lbs - I was expecting him to gain more since we brought him home because he's been eating like a horse and loves the new Merrick food we started him on shortly after we brought him home. But he expends a lot of energy going for walks with me and playing with his sisters, the neighbor dogs, all the dogs at the soccer fields, and his new step brother, Nero the Rhodesian Ridgeback (the girls' dad just got him). It's great having Nero around, because this is giving Skylar practice for when we get our Rhodesian Ridgeback girl in the fall.
Once the neuter recovery is complete, we'll be starting obedience, although he's super smart and already knows "no," "leave it" and "come." Now we're working on "stand" and "stay." He still loves going for walks, but just recently decided to make a fool of me by planting his feet and refusing to walk further after about a mile, so I had to carry him home the last half mile. Love that Cairn stubbornness!!
Skylar is adored by all here, and we're just so happy to have him as part of our family. I'm going to try and get a picture of him with his buddy Nero to send along - they love to wrestle, and you're just as likely to see Skylar sitting on top of Nero as the other way around! Thanks again to everyone for helping to make this happen. We can't tell you enough what a wonderful thing you've done.
Laura, Grace & Erin
Just thought I'd send an update, Skylar was neutered yesterday, so we'll be sending the documentation out for that. He did just fine, was a little wobbly, woozy and sleepy afterward but is back to his normal Cairn self this morning.
At six months, he is now 7.5 lbs - I was expecting him to gain more since we brought him home because he's been eating like a horse and loves the new Merrick food we started him on shortly after we brought him home. But he expends a lot of energy going for walks with me and playing with his sisters, the neighbor dogs, all the dogs at the soccer fields, and his new step brother, Nero the Rhodesian Ridgeback (the girls' dad just got him). It's great having Nero around, because this is giving Skylar practice for when we get our Rhodesian Ridgeback girl in the fall.
Once the neuter recovery is complete, we'll be starting obedience, although he's super smart and already knows "no," "leave it" and "come." Now we're working on "stand" and "stay." He still loves going for walks, but just recently decided to make a fool of me by planting his feet and refusing to walk further after about a mile, so I had to carry him home the last half mile. Love that Cairn stubbornness!!
Skylar is adored by all here, and we're just so happy to have him as part of our family. I'm going to try and get a picture of him with his buddy Nero to send along - they love to wrestle, and you're just as likely to see Skylar sitting on top of Nero as the other way around! Thanks again to everyone for helping to make this happen. We can't tell you enough what a wonderful thing you've done.
Laura, Grace & Erin
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Grover Update
Grover & Sydney are doing great! She adores him, every day when she gets home from school she lets him out of his crate and gives him a hug for as long as he'll sit still for her. He really is a great little dog :) I'm attaching some pictures of him from over the past year in a zip file. Thanks again for everything, Cassie, Syd, & I couldn't imagine not having him around. He's become a very special part of the family.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Limping, Xrays, Supplements
Here is some more great advice from Bonnie. She is respondng to a new adoptive Mom whose 8- year-old male cairn has been limping, and may need an xray.
If you're going to have an xray done, try to work with Noah before doing that to see if you can get him to lie still in various positions for short periods. There is really NO reason why a dog HAS to be put under anesthesia for xrays. The vet wants to knock him out and do the xrays as quickly as possible for his own reasons which may not be best for the dog. I'd see if another nearby vet might be willing to do xrays without anesthesia.
I'd recommend positive training like clicker training where you> get him to lie still for just a second and then give him a treat. Work on extending the time he will lie still. Of course, I'm assuming that he doesn't lie still easily. You can also give a short massage after the treat to increase the time relaxed.
I'm going to give you a link to one of the websites I use all the time. It is owned by Mary Straus who has been a great friend to Col. Potter dogs and is likely to get a Cairn in the future. Here's a link to her section on supplements for arthritic dogs. http://www.dogaware.com/arthritis.html#supplements
If you're going to have an xray done, try to work with Noah before doing that to see if you can get him to lie still in various positions for short periods. There is really NO reason why a dog HAS to be put under anesthesia for xrays. The vet wants to knock him out and do the xrays as quickly as possible for his own reasons which may not be best for the dog. I'd see if another nearby vet might be willing to do xrays without anesthesia.
I'd recommend positive training like clicker training where you> get him to lie still for just a second and then give him a treat. Work on extending the time he will lie still. Of course, I'm assuming that he doesn't lie still easily. You can also give a short massage after the treat to increase the time relaxed.
I'm going to give you a link to one of the websites I use all the time. It is owned by Mary Straus who has been a great friend to Col. Potter dogs and is likely to get a Cairn in the future. Here's a link to her section on supplements for arthritic dogs. http://www.dogaware.com/arthritis.html#supplements
Dental Procedure for Our Senior Kids
Bonnie, our resident nutrition expert, recently sent the following advice to a concerned Mom. Queen Scarlett, a 10-yr-old puppy mill survivor now happily living in her Colorado forever home, needs a dental.
Anytime our kids require a medical procedure, especially anesthesia, we are concerned. A first step is to check out Mary Straus' list of pre- and post-op recommendations:
http://www.dogaware.com/misc.html#opcare
Here's a link to one section of an excellent series of articles on dentals by either Nancy Campbell and/or Christie Keith both of whom are on the K9 Nutrition Yahoo list and are awesomely helpful ladies!
http://vettechs.blogspot.com/2005/08/beginning-of-dental.html
Remember that Acepromazine aka ACE is not recommended to be used with terriers as instead of being a calmative it often has an opposite reaction. ACE is not an anesthetic so it may not be considered for usage but some vets use it either before or after.
Since Scarlett may lose one or more teeth, post-procedure, I'd either offer her canned food or feed things like baby food meat the first couple of meals, then you can go to scrambled eggs with cheese for a couple of meals. By then you can probably give her cooked, shredded chicken or you can make her cooked ground beef or ground turkey with way overcooked rice (use double the normal amount of water when cooking the rice and cook it for double the normal time). Then you may start to add kibble back into her meals and if it'sa largish kibble you can beat it to death with a hammer or put it in the blender (but it'll be loud).
I hope Bonnie's advice and the other resources are helpful if your Terreirorist faces a similar procedure! Stay calm while you're waiting for the Vet's office to call with results; post lots to CRM if you need our support! Let us know when your Baby is safely home.
Anytime our kids require a medical procedure, especially anesthesia, we are concerned. A first step is to check out Mary Straus' list of pre- and post-op recommendations:
http://www.dogaware.com/misc.html#opcare
Here's a link to one section of an excellent series of articles on dentals by either Nancy Campbell and/or Christie Keith both of whom are on the K9 Nutrition Yahoo list and are awesomely helpful ladies!
http://vettechs.blogspot.com/2005/08/beginning-of-dental.html
Remember that Acepromazine aka ACE is not recommended to be used with terriers as instead of being a calmative it often has an opposite reaction. ACE is not an anesthetic so it may not be considered for usage but some vets use it either before or after.
Since Scarlett may lose one or more teeth, post-procedure, I'd either offer her canned food or feed things like baby food meat the first couple of meals, then you can go to scrambled eggs with cheese for a couple of meals. By then you can probably give her cooked, shredded chicken or you can make her cooked ground beef or ground turkey with way overcooked rice (use double the normal amount of water when cooking the rice and cook it for double the normal time). Then you may start to add kibble back into her meals and if it'sa largish kibble you can beat it to death with a hammer or put it in the blender (but it'll be loud).
I hope Bonnie's advice and the other resources are helpful if your Terreirorist faces a similar procedure! Stay calm while you're waiting for the Vet's office to call with results; post lots to CRM if you need our support! Let us know when your Baby is safely home.
Saffy (fka Gershwin) the Talking Toy Thief
Saffy is doing wonderfully...and continues to be a complete delight...and she now has a HUGE collection of toys! I am sure I will be buying one of Amy and Brian's toy boxes very soon....She (and Ollie and Olivia) just spent three days with my stepfather...while my mother and I went on a Elderhostel trip....all did very well...my stepfather just dotes on them when he has them. Mom and I got back and I was getting all the dog gear together so we could all go home. I was putting Saffy's toys in a bag and as soon as I put the toys in; Saffy would take them out and run off with them...and while I went to go and get the toy and she would take out another one, and then I would go and get that one.... etc, etc...it was so funny we were all laughing. Will be sending more pix of The Princess....she has started talking...so funny..looks right at me and "Rrrourfghgh"...very meaningful and insightful comments I am sure!!! What a hoot she is!
Etta Update
Every now and then we are blessed with a "long ago" adoption update. Just recently, foster mom Bonnie shared this story:
I contacted the Forever Mommy of our former foster Etta. I wanted to share with her the video that has some photos of Etta being a surrogate mommy to our puppy foster Rowdy: http://youtube.com/profile?user=ColPotterCairnRescue
I always choke up when I think about Etta. One of our wonderful volunteers got to the shelter on what would have been Etta's last day on earth. They said no one would want an 8 y/o dog with hair loss from a flea infestation who circled all the time.WRONG!!! Etta came to my home for fostering and with decent care her hair quickly grew in and with love and attention the circling behavior mostly disappeared. When I got a call that someone was interested in Etta we talked about all her good points and I said I couldn't think of even one bad point to mention. A young professional woman drove 10 hours to adopt Etta in November of 2004. She stayed overnight at a motel and drove 10 hours back home. Every time we talk she says Etta is still *perfect*. Here's what her mom says now:
Etta continues to be wonderful! Right now we are living with a 1 year old Bagle (Beagle/Basset mix) and after working out a couple differences they get along well. Etta had some minor surgery in April (to have a cyst removed), but other than that she is incredibly> healthy and the vets think she may even be younger than we originally thought! Seeing how wonderful Etta is really inspired my parents to become involved with Colonel Potter. They'd always believed in animal shelters, but after getting to know Etta so well, I think it put a personal touch on the issue for them -- they absolutely adore her and cannot believe that she could have been euthanized!
I've included some recent photos of Etta for you. The first picture is of Etta running around in my parent's back yard. The second picture is of Etta after chasing my parent's dog, Mac, around the back yard and diving into a mud puddle, and the third is of Etta 'sitting pretty' for a spoonful of yogurt with Mac in the background.
I contacted the Forever Mommy of our former foster Etta. I wanted to share with her the video that has some photos of Etta being a surrogate mommy to our puppy foster Rowdy: http://youtube.com/profile?user=ColPotterCairnRescue
I always choke up when I think about Etta. One of our wonderful volunteers got to the shelter on what would have been Etta's last day on earth. They said no one would want an 8 y/o dog with hair loss from a flea infestation who circled all the time.WRONG!!! Etta came to my home for fostering and with decent care her hair quickly grew in and with love and attention the circling behavior mostly disappeared. When I got a call that someone was interested in Etta we talked about all her good points and I said I couldn't think of even one bad point to mention. A young professional woman drove 10 hours to adopt Etta in November of 2004. She stayed overnight at a motel and drove 10 hours back home. Every time we talk she says Etta is still *perfect*. Here's what her mom says now:
Etta continues to be wonderful! Right now we are living with a 1 year old Bagle (Beagle/Basset mix) and after working out a couple differences they get along well. Etta had some minor surgery in April (to have a cyst removed), but other than that she is incredibly> healthy and the vets think she may even be younger than we originally thought! Seeing how wonderful Etta is really inspired my parents to become involved with Colonel Potter. They'd always believed in animal shelters, but after getting to know Etta so well, I think it put a personal touch on the issue for them -- they absolutely adore her and cannot believe that she could have been euthanized!
I've included some recent photos of Etta for you. The first picture is of Etta running around in my parent's back yard. The second picture is of Etta after chasing my parent's dog, Mac, around the back yard and diving into a mud puddle, and the third is of Etta 'sitting pretty' for a spoonful of yogurt with Mac in the background.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Reconditioning to the Phone Ringing
Hi All, A co-worker of my daughter bought a cairn from a pet store about one year ago. (I shudder to have to say that on this website. I actually didn't know there were still any mall pet stores that sell puppies in Maryland.) Scruffy was about 2 months old when purchased so he's a little over a year old now. The owner knows that I have cairns and asked for help with a problem.Scruffy goes totally crazy when the telephone rings. He barks at other loud sounds but does not go crazy like he does when the phone rings. He has had this issue since they got him and it seems to be getting worse. They are concerned for his safety and health. If he is in his crate when it rings, he moves the crate across the floor because he goes so wild. Does anyone have any suggestions (in addition to never buying from a pet store again)?
You know, telephone conditioning is really easy to recondition, especially since most people either have more than one home telephone number or a home and a cell. You can call yourself on the big bad phone, and pre-condition . . . calm down, good boy, NO BARK, and if he goes nuts, it's crate time. If he stops or at least holds off at times, it's meaningful treat time. Recondition them that the phone is a good thing because it's treat time, and then keep treats by the phone. Danielle
Thanks,Kathleen, Duncan, & Buddy in MD
You know, telephone conditioning is really easy to recondition, especially since most people either have more than one home telephone number or a home and a cell. You can call yourself on the big bad phone, and pre-condition . . . calm down, good boy, NO BARK, and if he goes nuts, it's crate time. If he stops or at least holds off at times, it's meaningful treat time. Recondition them that the phone is a good thing because it's treat time, and then keep treats by the phone. Danielle
Blondie - Softball Queen!
Former Foster Mom Lori writes: Here is an update I received from our Blondie's mom, Wendie. Notes like this are what makes it easier to let your foster kid go to their forever home. Blondie truly blossomed into a true Cairn Princess in her new home. Wendie could not be happier with her girl and it certainly sounds like Blondie rules her kingdom:) Lori Rogers, AR
Blondie and I were surfing the internet tonight and saw that you and Mike have been busy with new puppies! They are just precious... Blondie is now officially the "QUEEN of the house". She is just so precious. We are working on our manners with company; as Blondie loves everyone soooo much that she wants to be near them at all times. Plus, the couch was bought for her, wasn't it? And how dare company sit in 'her' spot.
She has adjusted quite well and is now at the point where mom has to carry her upstairs to bed, because she would rather sleep on the couch or just be a stubborn cairn and not come when called. She just got a beautiful new collar and leash with butterflies from the boutique dog store near mom's work. (although, she will always wear the harness). Her favorite spring activity was going to watch mom's friends play softball; all the guys and gals just fawned all over her and made her feel extra special. Even brother Piper had a good time at the softball games.
Blondie LOVES Petite Pooch and she and brother Pi go once or twice a week. Neena, the manager just LOVES Blondie and squeels whenever she arrives. Petite Pooch was just written up on the Dallas internet web base known as City Guide and Blondie and Brother Pi were in the video!
On Memorial Day, Blondie, Brother Pi and Mom went to a pool party. The people had a really big back yard and Blondie and Brother Pi ran and ran and ran. Then Blondie waded onto the top step of the pool to see mom! She isn't afraid of anything. Mom bought Blondie Nature's Variety canned food from the Yap too. Blondie especially loves the rabbit canned food. Blondie loves her morning walks, but as she and Brother Pi have different stamina levels, mom ends up carrying her (every time) for the last 3 blocks. All is very well in Blondie's world, I believe.
Blondie and I were surfing the internet tonight and saw that you and Mike have been busy with new puppies! They are just precious... Blondie is now officially the "QUEEN of the house". She is just so precious. We are working on our manners with company; as Blondie loves everyone soooo much that she wants to be near them at all times. Plus, the couch was bought for her, wasn't it? And how dare company sit in 'her' spot.
She has adjusted quite well and is now at the point where mom has to carry her upstairs to bed, because she would rather sleep on the couch or just be a stubborn cairn and not come when called. She just got a beautiful new collar and leash with butterflies from the boutique dog store near mom's work. (although, she will always wear the harness). Her favorite spring activity was going to watch mom's friends play softball; all the guys and gals just fawned all over her and made her feel extra special. Even brother Piper had a good time at the softball games.
Blondie LOVES Petite Pooch and she and brother Pi go once or twice a week. Neena, the manager just LOVES Blondie and squeels whenever she arrives. Petite Pooch was just written up on the Dallas internet web base known as City Guide and Blondie and Brother Pi were in the video!
On Memorial Day, Blondie, Brother Pi and Mom went to a pool party. The people had a really big back yard and Blondie and Brother Pi ran and ran and ran. Then Blondie waded onto the top step of the pool to see mom! She isn't afraid of anything. Mom bought Blondie Nature's Variety canned food from the Yap too. Blondie especially loves the rabbit canned food. Blondie loves her morning walks, but as she and Brother Pi have different stamina levels, mom ends up carrying her (every time) for the last 3 blocks. All is very well in Blondie's world, I believe.
Cormick now Murphy
Hi Mary Jean, We love him! Cormick, AKA "Murphy," is such a sweet, happy dog. He seems to be adjusting quite well. This was a wonderful process. Everyone has been so kind and helpful. I shared our experience with friends who not have thoughts of adopting a rescue. Maxine
Kale's Forever Home
Neola writes: I had a nice conversation with Julia, Kale's forever mother this afternoon. She and her husband really enjoy and love little Kale. They live next door to a dog park and Kale loves to go there and play with the other dogs. Kale seems to know this is his forever home and loves his new home. He interacts well with people and his play pals at the dog park. Really smart little Cairn.
Merry Melini
Just wanted to share...
We took the pups (Tigr, Melini and Sadie Hawkins) to the park this weekend. When we picked up Melini to foster right after Thanksgiving, she was this scared, trembling little ball of fur that wouldn't even look at me. Yesterday at the park, she was running around on her long leash with a huge smile on her face, tail wagging, happiest dog you've ever seen. It makes it all worth while when you see them smile...
- Cindy
We took the pups (Tigr, Melini and Sadie Hawkins) to the park this weekend. When we picked up Melini to foster right after Thanksgiving, she was this scared, trembling little ball of fur that wouldn't even look at me. Yesterday at the park, she was running around on her long leash with a huge smile on her face, tail wagging, happiest dog you've ever seen. It makes it all worth while when you see them smile...
- Cindy
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
TRUST by P.S. Gifford
I trust my best friend one hundred percent, without any question or doubt. I tell him all of my secrets, share my dreams, confide my fears and confess my sins. He listens without ever passing judgment. I always feel better after confiding in him and I feel that everybody should have someone they can talk to discreetly. It is cathartic sharing your deepest most private feelings. Trust me on this. I have told him things I would not dream in telling anyone else and I know that he would never betray my trust in a million years. Often times we enjoy walking as we chat, maybe along an isolated beach, or sometimes in the mountains. It is invigorating simply being outdoors with him and whilst sharing his loyal company I have been inspired to write many of my stories. Being with him is liberating for the mind. Talking openly seems to have a marvelously stimulating affect on my imagination. It is as if he is some sort of magical catalyst to my inner truer self. Being with him allows me to tap into my deepest feelings. He truly makes me appreciate the simpler things in life. He is not swayed by materialistic things. He does not care what car I drive, what zip code my house is in, or how much money I earn. He appreciates me for precisely what I am. Chester has been a part of my life for six years now. And, to be perfectly frank, I can not even imagine him not being a part of it. There is great comfort in knowing that Chester will never think bad of me, no matter what I tell him. I swear he is better than any psychoanalyst. I have no need to pay anyone one hundred dollars an hour to analyze me. He is watching me type this and looks most curious. I suspect he knows I am writing about him. I swear he knows me so well I swear that he can, on occasion, almost read my thoughts. I will read it to him before I hit the send key. He will get a good kick out of it I am sure. Then I will give his belly a good old scratch and take my beloved dog for a good hearty walk up the creek. Chester came from a dog shelter and had been terribly abused. But, he brings unconditional love into my life on a level that no person could ever compete. People are flawed. People can be vindictive, cruel and just plain mean. Dogs are loving. Dogs are forgiving, sweet and just plain needy. Yes, I have been blessed with a loving wife, a fantastic son, and numerous friends who I trust ninety percent of the time. With my wife it is ninety nine percent. But even then humans are prone to anger, and anger tampers with the rational part of the mind, and people often say things that they will later regret. I know that all my secrets are completely safe with Chester...-- P.S. Gifford
Dagney is now a Soccer Mascot!
Just a quick update on Skylar formerly known as Dagney. He is doing just great. He goes to the girls soccer games and meets and greets everyone down the line getting his scratchies. He is almost potty trained and Laura takes full responsibility for the few accidents he has had. She and I think a lot a like on that topic! She says he has a little stubborn streak in him when out walking. If he wants to stop and take a whiff at something nothing is going to keep him from stopping. She finds him comical! They are going to add a new rhodesian in the fall so Skylar will have a furbud. :)
The Association of Pet Dog Trainers
The APDT (www.apdt.com) is a professional association, founded in 1993, of independent trainers who focus on the relationship between pet and owner. They use reward based training methods. Please visit their website if you need to find a trainer where you live, or for more information about this group.
The Anxiety Wrap
I wanted to share indormation with everyone about the Anxiety Wrap. Owners with fearful or shy dogs have found it helpful, as have those with a dog who is frightened of thunderstorms.
Their website (http://anxietywrap.com/) describes the Anxiety Wrap as "A wonderful tool that helps animals to cope & overcome their past and present issues. It aids an animal's ability to focus & remain calm and compliments the use of gentle training methods."
The Anxiety Wrap uses the technique called "MAINTAINED PRESSURE" to aid in calming your animal thereby allowing him or her to redirect their focus. When used with gentle training methods, the Anxiety Wrap works with the animal's entire mind, body and spirit.
The Anxiety Wrap's creator is Susan Sharpe, who has over 20 years experience working with animals. After successfully leaving the owner/management world she went full time into working with animals. Susan's experience is complemented by her continuing education of staying current on the latest alternative training techniques and their related issues. She stays current by enrolling in specific courses, workshops, clinics and seminars that will enable her to work with animals as a whole being, while addressing the training and/or behavior issues that concern their caretakers. A couple of these specific courses have been Purdue University's "DOGS" Course Principles and Techniques of Behavior Modification. Susan is also Indiana's only certified Tellington Touch Practitioner. These combined with successfully attending and completing other various workshops, clinics and seminars continue to ensure that Susan remains updated and current when it comes to our animal companions. Susan is also a member in good standing with the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and of course she possesses a genuine love and respect for animals.
Go to the website to learn more about the Anxiety Wrap and it's creator Susan Sharpe. Also learn about Susan's training facility, All Dogs School and her vacation resort for dogs, Doggie Resort.
If you have a success story using the Anxiety Wrap, I would love to post it on this blog. Please feel free to send it to me!
Their website (http://anxietywrap.com/) describes the Anxiety Wrap as "A wonderful tool that helps animals to cope & overcome their past and present issues. It aids an animal's ability to focus & remain calm and compliments the use of gentle training methods."
The Anxiety Wrap uses the technique called "MAINTAINED PRESSURE" to aid in calming your animal thereby allowing him or her to redirect their focus. When used with gentle training methods, the Anxiety Wrap works with the animal's entire mind, body and spirit.
The Anxiety Wrap's creator is Susan Sharpe, who has over 20 years experience working with animals. After successfully leaving the owner/management world she went full time into working with animals. Susan's experience is complemented by her continuing education of staying current on the latest alternative training techniques and their related issues. She stays current by enrolling in specific courses, workshops, clinics and seminars that will enable her to work with animals as a whole being, while addressing the training and/or behavior issues that concern their caretakers. A couple of these specific courses have been Purdue University's "DOGS" Course Principles and Techniques of Behavior Modification. Susan is also Indiana's only certified Tellington Touch Practitioner. These combined with successfully attending and completing other various workshops, clinics and seminars continue to ensure that Susan remains updated and current when it comes to our animal companions. Susan is also a member in good standing with the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and of course she possesses a genuine love and respect for animals.
Go to the website to learn more about the Anxiety Wrap and it's creator Susan Sharpe. Also learn about Susan's training facility, All Dogs School and her vacation resort for dogs, Doggie Resort.
If you have a success story using the Anxiety Wrap, I would love to post it on this blog. Please feel free to send it to me!
Symptoms of Pet Illness
Bonnie shared this important write-up from the the Long Beach Animal Hospital in Long Beach, CA. If you like, you can sign up for their newsletter at http://www.lbah.com/.
With the recent Menu Foods scare it might be a good time to review some of the symptoms pets show when they are ill with an internal disease. In some cases these symptoms are subtle and require careful observation on your part. Also, when a pet has multiple (and busy) owners it is easy to overlook the early signs of disease in pets.
Some symptoms of internal disease are obvious, the primary ones being lackof appetite and persistent vomiting or diarrhea, along with lethargy and a strong odor. Lets look at some of the more subtle symptoms that might indicate an internal problem.
A pet that does not eat its food as vigorously as it once did could indicate a problem anywhere from the mouth, to the brain, to the internal organs. Panting more than usual, even during the cooler time of the year, could indicate an internal hormone problem called Cushings disease or even discomfort or pain from arthritis or an internal organ problem.
Laying around more often, or gravitating towards warm areas couldindicate another hormone problem involving the thyroid gland. Any eye or nose discharge that is persistent, and drains from only oneside could indicate a number of problems. Subtle behavior changesthat include a lack of recognition when your pet greets you,changes in sleep patterns, circling around a table in your house,staring into space, or wandering into a wall could indicate anything from an old age problem to a problem with a brain tumor or central nervous system infection.
A pet that drinks or urinates more than its usual amount is a potential symptom of many different problems. The same holds true if your pet experiences the opposite and drinks or urinates less. A significant change in the color of your pets stool, usually muchdarker or much lighter, is also a potential sign of many different problems.
One of the best ways to watch for any of these symptoms is to measure or monitor your pets drinking and eating habits. Use your calendar and mark your parameters down periodically. You can even weigh your pet monthly and write things down each time you weigh your pet. Any change that becomes apparent is an indication for a physical exam by a veterinarian.
Yearly Wellness exams that include a physical exam along with a fecal check for parasites and a routine blood panel go a long way towards identifying problems before they become well entrenched and difficult to treat. This is particularly true for our geriatric pets that commonly become ill but do not show any outward or apparent signs. Our Geriatric page at http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9s0qq&m=9eB78XutNT9d5&b=2qyRWALvATSEgWzTuc5MXQ will give you detailed informationabout the common diseases of older pets.
3816 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 USA
http://www.aweber.com/
With the recent Menu Foods scare it might be a good time to review some of the symptoms pets show when they are ill with an internal disease. In some cases these symptoms are subtle and require careful observation on your part. Also, when a pet has multiple (and busy) owners it is easy to overlook the early signs of disease in pets.
Some symptoms of internal disease are obvious, the primary ones being lackof appetite and persistent vomiting or diarrhea, along with lethargy and a strong odor. Lets look at some of the more subtle symptoms that might indicate an internal problem.
A pet that does not eat its food as vigorously as it once did could indicate a problem anywhere from the mouth, to the brain, to the internal organs. Panting more than usual, even during the cooler time of the year, could indicate an internal hormone problem called Cushings disease or even discomfort or pain from arthritis or an internal organ problem.
Laying around more often, or gravitating towards warm areas couldindicate another hormone problem involving the thyroid gland. Any eye or nose discharge that is persistent, and drains from only oneside could indicate a number of problems. Subtle behavior changesthat include a lack of recognition when your pet greets you,changes in sleep patterns, circling around a table in your house,staring into space, or wandering into a wall could indicate anything from an old age problem to a problem with a brain tumor or central nervous system infection.
A pet that drinks or urinates more than its usual amount is a potential symptom of many different problems. The same holds true if your pet experiences the opposite and drinks or urinates less. A significant change in the color of your pets stool, usually muchdarker or much lighter, is also a potential sign of many different problems.
One of the best ways to watch for any of these symptoms is to measure or monitor your pets drinking and eating habits. Use your calendar and mark your parameters down periodically. You can even weigh your pet monthly and write things down each time you weigh your pet. Any change that becomes apparent is an indication for a physical exam by a veterinarian.
Yearly Wellness exams that include a physical exam along with a fecal check for parasites and a routine blood panel go a long way towards identifying problems before they become well entrenched and difficult to treat. This is particularly true for our geriatric pets that commonly become ill but do not show any outward or apparent signs. Our Geriatric page at http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9s0qq&m=9eB78XutNT9d5&b=2qyRWALvATSEgWzTuc5MXQ will give you detailed informationabout the common diseases of older pets.
3816 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 USA
http://www.aweber.com/
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Homemade Diet Nutrition Analysis
Cheryl writes: My foster has both diabetes and pancreatic failure (so makes no digestive enzymes.) Her food has to be absolutely highest quality so she can have the best chance of adsorbing the nutrients. I've opted for human-grade homemade food. Have the Merck Manual of Veterinary Medicine that lists the daily requirements for dogs. Found an on-line site that allows you to look up foods, put them in your "pantry", then concoct recipes. You name the recipe and hit analyze and it calculates all the nutrients, gives the ratio of protein, carbs, and fat. Lists vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. It has a "completeness" graph to show what nutrients are missing and calculates a glycemic index (good for preventing erratic blood sugars.) It rates the recipe on a 0 to 5 scale for "fullness factor" and "nutritional density." Editing (add or subtract foods or adjust quantities) is easy. The site is www.nutritiondata.com
I hope this may be helpful to you!
I hope this may be helpful to you!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Shy, Fearful, and Aggressive Dogs
The title of this entry may seem contradictory unless we remember that we are talking about dogs, whose behavior is sometimes difficult to classify. Specifically, we're talking about Cairns, and those adopted from puppy mills where they were not socialized or taught appropriate behavior. So when they come to their forever homes, they may exhibit shy, fearful or aggressive behaviors.
This is the Post-Adoption Team's biggest challenge - helping families help their cairn kids adjust to their loving homes. So I am always looking for supportive surces to share with these wonderfully patient families.
Dogwise http://www.dogwise.com/ is a wonderful resource for "all things dogs" - great book reviews and discussions.
There is a lot of great information on shy/fearful dogs for "you and your dog" at: http://www.fearfuldogs.com/
Also there is a Yahoo list for Click to Calm.
This is the Post-Adoption Team's biggest challenge - helping families help their cairn kids adjust to their loving homes. So I am always looking for supportive surces to share with these wonderfully patient families.
Dogwise http://www.dogwise.com/ is a wonderful resource for "all things dogs" - great book reviews and discussions.
There is a lot of great information on shy/fearful dogs for "you and your dog" at: http://www.fearfuldogs.com/
Also there is a Yahoo list for Click to Calm.
Book recommendations from those who have worked with these problems include:
The Cautious Canine (short, sensible, not a ton of detail) by Patricia McConnell.
Help for Your Fearful Dog (long, detailed, thorough, mostly very accurate info) by Nicole Wilde.
Scaredy Dog by Ali Brown.
Click For Calm: Healing the Aggressive Dog by Emma Parsons http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=DTB825
Control Unleashed by Leslie McDevitt http://www.controlunleashed.net/book.html
How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong by Pamela S. Dennison Just recently she released an addendum specifically for the 'city dog'. Both these books also have detailed training & management strategies for helping a dog or people aggressive dog. http://www.alpinepub.com/product_info.php?ref=9&products_id=36&affiliate_banner_id=24
Also Pam's book Bringing Light to Shadow consists of extracts of her journal written while rehabbing a people-aggressive border collie, Shadow, who was a known anxiety/fear biter. It's an inspiring read but not a 'how to'. All her books are here http://www.positivedogs.com/pamsbooksndvds.html
When Pigs Fly - Training Success with Impossible Dogs byJane Killion's http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=1359
Focus, Not Fear, also by Ali Brown, the companion to Scardey Dog.Clearly written and very engaging, it follows her fear agressive dogclass through a period of time. Read Scardey Dog first. This is agreat follow-up to that.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
April Adoptions by State
Casatta in AR
Deuce now Gunnar in AZ
Mignonne in CO - little sister to CP kid Scarlett
Clyde now Skye in FL
Burnett in KY
Lindbergh in MA
Edison in MI
Shelalegh now Raven in MI
Poinsettia in MI
Nessarose in MN
Holke in MO
Marmalade in NJ
Gravel now Gracie in NJ
Nader in NY
Lassiter in OR
Giselle in TX
Achaius now Oscar in TX
Saxon in TX
Windway in VA
Eppie now Fiona in WA
Ceylon in WA
Deuce now Gunnar in AZ
Mignonne in CO - little sister to CP kid Scarlett
Clyde now Skye in FL
Burnett in KY
Lindbergh in MA
Edison in MI
Shelalegh now Raven in MI
Poinsettia in MI
Nessarose in MN
Holke in MO
Marmalade in NJ
Gravel now Gracie in NJ
Nader in NY
Lassiter in OR
Giselle in TX
Achaius now Oscar in TX
Saxon in TX
Windway in VA
Eppie now Fiona in WA
Ceylon in WA
Letty's Misadventure
Mary in Michigan writes:
My foster Letty was adopted in early February. Fortunately, her mom is very tuned in to her ... she sent this note yesterday (Saturday)
When I got home from work on Thursday, I knew Ms. Letty was not quite herself. After dinner she started throwing up...didn't seem to be able to get comfortable sitting next to me in the recliner. Off to the emergency vet we went. Once there she threw up a ball of string from a tug-of-war rope. I thought that had been the problem but she kept throwing up. A barium drink and x-ray showed the barium wasn't passing from her stomach on through her system. The surgeon was consulted,called in, and did surgery on her about 2 A.M. Friday morning. Ah yes,he removed more strings from the rope! I found what was left of the rope when I got home. We have no more of them! Letty came home this morning, and has been resting most of the day in her crate. Everyone at Michigan Vet Specialist thought she was just the sweetest little gal and a great patient. They were thorough and just wonderful throughout the whole ordeal. Thank goodness we're on the road to recovery.
Sounds like everything is A-OK now.
My foster Letty was adopted in early February. Fortunately, her mom is very tuned in to her ... she sent this note yesterday (Saturday)
When I got home from work on Thursday, I knew Ms. Letty was not quite herself. After dinner she started throwing up...didn't seem to be able to get comfortable sitting next to me in the recliner. Off to the emergency vet we went. Once there she threw up a ball of string from a tug-of-war rope. I thought that had been the problem but she kept throwing up. A barium drink and x-ray showed the barium wasn't passing from her stomach on through her system. The surgeon was consulted,called in, and did surgery on her about 2 A.M. Friday morning. Ah yes,he removed more strings from the rope! I found what was left of the rope when I got home. We have no more of them! Letty came home this morning, and has been resting most of the day in her crate. Everyone at Michigan Vet Specialist thought she was just the sweetest little gal and a great patient. They were thorough and just wonderful throughout the whole ordeal. Thank goodness we're on the road to recovery.
Sounds like everything is A-OK now.
Walter Finds the Perfect Spot for Napping
We've had Walter for almost three months now. He's very sweet and will give kisses if he's really excited and he likes to have his rubs, but so far he has shown no interest in lap time or cuddling or even sleeping with us. WELL - this afternoon I decided to lie down on the couch for a short rest. Immediately Chewy jumped up and positioned himself at my feet (as usual) and Scruffy, my mom's cairn who was visiting, jumps up and wedges himself by my legs. Walter looked at me and I invited him up not really thinking he would join us. Imagine my surprise when he jumped right up and snuggled along my body and laid his sweet little head on my arm. I wanted to cry! And it took all my self-restraint to just enjoy his snuggles and not "over" love on him. Thank you Col. Potter (and that means all of you reading this!) for saving this precious boy!
Kale - the SmileMaker
I think we have a match made in Heaven. I was prepared for Kale to be shy and fearful but he is so self assured and comfortable here. He rode in the car very comfortably, when we reached Norfolk he started to "talk" like he knew he was going to his forever home. He had a walk where he did everything and then explored the house. He is alert and playful, already playing tug and fetch with his "Daddy". He loved his dinner and just fits in like he was made to be here. I believe he was.
I cannot thank all the people in the Colonel Potter Network enough for making this adoption take place. We are all smiling.
In gratitude, Julia
I cannot thank all the people in the Colonel Potter Network enough for making this adoption take place. We are all smiling.
In gratitude, Julia
Gabby's in the Kitchen!
Bonnie, I had adopted Gabby about 2 years ago. You had helped me a while back get her microchip changed over to my name. During our email exchange, I had promised you a few pictures of her. I came across your email today while I was at my office. I don't have the best pictures of her on my work computer but, I did find these. You can see, there are some pictures of her without being "stripped" and a few with her being stripped. The pictures at the very bottom are very small (can't enlarge them or the get grainy). We had those taken by a professional. I also included a few pictures of her brother and sister....she is living large! Her favorite room in the house is the kitchen. You can see her sitting in front of the oven in hopes that a morsel of food will fall (as you can see, she is not missing any meals). She is such a great part of our family with her charming personality. It just wouldn't be home without her.
Norry's Very Happy Ending
Norry's Foster Mom recently received this email from Norry's forever parents:
Bonnie and Alan,
Today marks 2 years since you pulled Norry out of the basement that hadbecome his private hell. Steve and I are convinced that if you twohadn't been his angels, he soon would have been dead.We adore this little man and can never thank you enough for saving him!Heartfelt gratitude as we celebrate another year with our precious boy, Cheryl and Steve
Bonnie tells Norry's story:
In early April of 2006 we were alerted that there was an 11 y/o Cairn needing to be surrendered in a city not too far from us. We were driving somewhat past that area as we delivered a foster to his adoptive Mom. So we made our plans and arrangements and stopped at this place on the way home. The Cairn had been kept in the basement for about 6 months. His owner had had a stroke and he made her fall was the reason he was kept in the basement. So he was crated 24/7 with a neighbor coming around once or twice a day to feed him and let him potty. You can imagine what he looked and smelled like but he was friendly and happy to see us. All his doggie things were turned over to us. She showed us the nice plastic bin for his food. When opened it turned out to be totally empty. We drove home with the windows open as the little guy smelled terrible from urine and feces embedded in his coat. We dropped him off at a groomer to be shaved down and bathed before we ever went home.
For an older guy he sure wasn't in foster care long as his new mama-to-be spotted him and applied to adopt him asap. He's been spoiled properly ever since which thrills me to pieces. His Mom not only loves and spoils Norry but she also fostered and adopted a couple more CP Cairns so he has plenty of Cairn company at home and he's never alone now. She is also volunteering as part of my Tags Team. We can't thank her enough for loving my sweet boy!
See Norry's current photo sporting a full, healthy coat after months of good food and loving care.
Bonnie and Alan,
Today marks 2 years since you pulled Norry out of the basement that hadbecome his private hell. Steve and I are convinced that if you twohadn't been his angels, he soon would have been dead.We adore this little man and can never thank you enough for saving him!Heartfelt gratitude as we celebrate another year with our precious boy, Cheryl and Steve
Bonnie tells Norry's story:
In early April of 2006 we were alerted that there was an 11 y/o Cairn needing to be surrendered in a city not too far from us. We were driving somewhat past that area as we delivered a foster to his adoptive Mom. So we made our plans and arrangements and stopped at this place on the way home. The Cairn had been kept in the basement for about 6 months. His owner had had a stroke and he made her fall was the reason he was kept in the basement. So he was crated 24/7 with a neighbor coming around once or twice a day to feed him and let him potty. You can imagine what he looked and smelled like but he was friendly and happy to see us. All his doggie things were turned over to us. She showed us the nice plastic bin for his food. When opened it turned out to be totally empty. We drove home with the windows open as the little guy smelled terrible from urine and feces embedded in his coat. We dropped him off at a groomer to be shaved down and bathed before we ever went home.
For an older guy he sure wasn't in foster care long as his new mama-to-be spotted him and applied to adopt him asap. He's been spoiled properly ever since which thrills me to pieces. His Mom not only loves and spoils Norry but she also fostered and adopted a couple more CP Cairns so he has plenty of Cairn company at home and he's never alone now. She is also volunteering as part of my Tags Team. We can't thank her enough for loving my sweet boy!
See Norry's current photo sporting a full, healthy coat after months of good food and loving care.
An Update From Princess Nala to her Foster Mom
Hi! It's me Nala! I's having my new mom write you a quick note (my new uncle Pal is rubbing my tummy). Well, my new brothers are ok...me and Titan the terror get along great! Wes team up to chase Snowball! Me and Snowball had sum problems but we ok now. My new grandma is so funny! She sings to me and rubs my tummy and is teaching me Spanish (just like the boys!). She invited me to spend the summer with her and my brothers 'cuz she has a huge backyard. We're all moving over on June 14....my new mom has a BIG room and says my crate will fit just fine in there....unless I sleep downstairs with my brothers....I saw these weird little gray furry animals but I leave them alon, my brothers go crazy and want to chase them but I'm still deciding if I want to chase them too. It was raining yesterday and my new mom put on a pink raincoat on me before going out. I was nice and dry. Well, I's a Jerzie girl now but I miss you guys! Say hi to my former fosser siblings and tell the new guy that he'll get his forever home soon too!
Sloppy kisses,Nala
Hi Deb. Nala is settling just fine. She's adjusted really well and seems to enjoy all the attention she gets from not only the two legged inhabitants but also the four legged ones! My mom was ify on the whole insulin thing but has asked me to teach her how to give it in case she ever has to. As Nala told you, we're spending the summer over at my mother's house so that the kids can have the backyard to themselves...my mom will be home on vacation so she's looking foward to it. Anyways, thank you so much for Nala...she completes our family. I'll send some pictures as soon as my sister uploads them.
Sloppy kisses,Nala
Hi Deb. Nala is settling just fine. She's adjusted really well and seems to enjoy all the attention she gets from not only the two legged inhabitants but also the four legged ones! My mom was ify on the whole insulin thing but has asked me to teach her how to give it in case she ever has to. As Nala told you, we're spending the summer over at my mother's house so that the kids can have the backyard to themselves...my mom will be home on vacation so she's looking foward to it. Anyways, thank you so much for Nala...she completes our family. I'll send some pictures as soon as my sister uploads them.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Flea Halter Cookie Recipe
Found this recipe on a website this a.m. - actually it was a catalog website but it had this recipe - go figure. So my question is couldn't I just add the wheat germ and brewer's yeast to my dog's food and get the same "flea halting" ?? Of course my dogs wouldn't LOVE me the way they do when I give them home-made biscuits I have NOT tried this so can't say anything about it - use at your own risk... Any comments welcomed.
Susan in Vermont
Flea Halter Dog Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup brewer's yeast (available at health-food stores)
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil
1 clove garlic, chopped medium
1/2 cup chicken stock plus 3 tablespoons for basting
Directions
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Mix flour, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, and salt together in a medium bowl. In a mixing bowl, combine oil and garlic. Alternately add 1/2 cup chicken stock and flour mixture in 3 parts; mix until well combined. Knead about 2 minutes by hand on floured surface; dough will be sticky.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out about 3/8 inch thick. Cut out bone shapes; place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes, rotate baking sheet, and baste with remaining 3 tablespoons chicken stock. Bake 10 minutes longer. Turn off oven, leaving oven door closed. Leave pan in oven for 1 1/2 hours longer.
Susan in Vermont
Flea Halter Dog Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup brewer's yeast (available at health-food stores)
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil
1 clove garlic, chopped medium
1/2 cup chicken stock plus 3 tablespoons for basting
Directions
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Mix flour, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, and salt together in a medium bowl. In a mixing bowl, combine oil and garlic. Alternately add 1/2 cup chicken stock and flour mixture in 3 parts; mix until well combined. Knead about 2 minutes by hand on floured surface; dough will be sticky.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out about 3/8 inch thick. Cut out bone shapes; place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes, rotate baking sheet, and baste with remaining 3 tablespoons chicken stock. Bake 10 minutes longer. Turn off oven, leaving oven door closed. Leave pan in oven for 1 1/2 hours longer.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Hello from Walter fka Kahuna
Hi Colonel Potter kids & people! Remember me? The big Kahuna from Oklahoma? Actually nobody really called me Kahuna much before and now I'm just Walter, Walt,Wally, Wally Tamale and all kinds of silly names my humans keep coming up with. My new brother and best, best friend Chewy has even more silly names than I do! I have lots of family now - including fur-guys! There's my brother Chewy and James the Cat (I chase him sometimes, but mostly I give him the respect he thinkshe deserves). I also have a beagle cousin named Kenny (he's kind of a big galoot, buthis momma has the BEST treats & toys!) and a cairn cousin named Scruffy and Imight have a Westie cousin pretty soon! Momma says Christmas should be fun thisyear with four terrors running around - sounds good to me! I have two two-legged brothers and guess what? They both have red beards just like me!You can't even tell I was 'dopted cuz we look so much alike! Well, my momma FINALLY figured out how to take pictures and put them in an album. (She's not the brightest crayon but I love her) So now I can show you my new digs andyou can see for yourself how much I love it here. I keep telling Momma that even thoughI sleep under the bed and sometimes grumble when she tells me what to do, I really dolove it here. And I ALWAYS greet her at the door with lots of kisses - and that bruise onthe nose from my teeth really was an accident! Gotta go jump on Chewy for one last wrestle before bedtime! Chow! Walter PeeEss - Momma wants to give a big THANKS to my fosser momma Christy for takingsuch good care of me and loving me even though I showed my teeth and grumbled sometimes. And Daddy says "gee thanks" to fosser daddy Jeff for teaching me howto drive.
Marmalade's Journey
Late September 2007 I received an email from our Intakes Team asking if I would pickup and foster a dog from the Flagler County Shelter, about an hour south of me. So Dad and I packed the crate in the car and took off. Pulling into the newly built facility, I noticed the outside, drop-off cages and was horrified at the thought of "throw-away" pets! Inside, the shelter was open, clean and welcoming. Soon we were introduced to "Lucy" - a 30-lb cairn?? There was no fitting this girl into the crate, so she travelled quietly strapped into the back seat.
I chose her Col. Potter name as Marmalade before I ever saw her, but it described her coloring perfectly. Marmie came to us heartworm positive and she started the protocol as soon as possible, under the fantastic staff at the Mandarin Veterinary Hospital. She breezed through the treament and never complained about her endless days of kennel rest. We described her more as a cairn-chow chow mix, noting the blue-black tongue and close set eyes.
Marmie's strong personality emerged more every day. She started to snarl and show her teeth when Dad tried to feed her or give her simple commands. I took her to my groomer, who is also a professional trainer, for some pampering. She suggested I bring her back to the shop every day so Marmie could watch and learn trust. Patrick, who works at the grooming shop, talked with her and handfed her chicken jerky. Marmie took it with an emotional hunger. I took her to obedience classes where she loved trotting alongside me. However, following the "sit" and "down" commands were NOT to her liking. She eventually complied but more and more I realized that I was not a strong enough Alpha to continue fostering Marmie.
Ruth in the Orlando area offered to take Marmie. So in late December we met in Daytona Beach and loaded the leary Marmalade in Ruth's convertible. Well, truth be told, Ruth was a little leary too. But off they went.
In January, Ruth's update read: Everybody that meets Marmalade remarks what a beautiful dog she is! No exceptions! There is some Chow in her and her tongue looks like she just ate blueberries. She is OK with other dogs, but would prefer to be alpha; since I already have an alpha, Marmalade is content to be by herself inthe living room with the ability to watch household activity. She is generally quiet; when she barks, I pay attention. I do let her out in the back yard with the other dogs and everyone is fine, even with my alpha nipping at her heels. She presents herself as aloof but enjoys attention. Food is a BIG issue. She learned as a stray and as an alpha to growl, show teeth when there is food around. It is as if the Care Bear turned into a fire-breathing dragon! It is scary BUT she has to sit in her crate before she gets her food bowl. She has been starved in the past and we are getting much better; while frightening, she is wagging her tail--what an actress. She knows that her actions are intimidating and it is only around food that her behavior varies from a kind, Care Bear.
A few weeks later, thru no real fault of her own, Marmalde moved to yet another foster home in Virginia. While Ruth and I were concerned for Marmalade, knowing Ann & Wayne as extraordinary people and dog lovers calmed some fears. We just wanted Marmie, or Lady as Ruth called her, safe in an environment where she could blossom.
Well, as they say, the third time's the charm and Wayne reported that: Marmalade is very sweet but does have food aggression and warrants special treatment at the time of feeding. She's very sweet, playful, and ritualistic in her routine. She's smart, learns quickly and knows her boundaries not to mention she has never had an accident in our home. She is a mix with a great deal of Chow Chow...black tongue, large feet, square head, and a lot of loose skin behind the neck and shoulders. Her eyes are also set further back than a cairn....but she's adorable and will make a wonderful companion for the right person. She's healthy, happy, and getting along great with 5 other cairns at this time.
To me, this was incredible progress, especially since I originally thought it was men that Marmie did not like. Later, Wayne described Marmie's hip-butting play, even more evidence of her adjustment to busy households, like those who apply to adopt our kids.
I believe that for every furkid, there is a perfect forever family. And noone finds that family better that the Col. Potter Matchmakers! They don't rush it, but when the right application arrives, their magic starts happening. For Marmie, it finally happened in mid-April. And to my great surprise, it was a guy applying to adopt Marmalade - a chow-chow experieced guy!
Well, Marm has been in her forever home in New Jersey for several weeks now and the updates could not be better! Here is what her Dad says:
Marmalade is doing fine and adjusting well. Her personality is coming out as she gets
more comfortable and her tail wags everytime I talk to her. We take at least two walks
a day of 20 minutes plus, early morning and dinner time. She has gone with me to work twice and just loves riding in the Tahoe. Seems very content to have the back seat to herself and inhales the wind through the moon roof if she isn't just sleeping.
I was at Linda's house this weekend as it was her mother's 87th birthday and she had a
great party for her with many family and friends over. So Marmalade got to meet about
16 new people at at once and she handled the flurry of activity and the new smells etc and
attention very well. She actually barked at people when she wasn't getting attention or if
I was out of sight. For the most part she has been quiet and not barking, which is fine too.
She is a smart girl for sure. Something interesting I noticed at my house is that when I return
to my apartment house with her from a long walk , no matter what direction we return from, she knows what driveway to walk up since my entrance is in the rear of the house! I was anxious to see how she would behave at Linda's house after a walk. So the two of us took her for a long walk and we actually tried to walk past her driveway but Marmalade just turned and walked up towards her front door. Pretty amazing!
I gave her a bath before the birthday party and she is perfectly calm in the shower, nothing
bothers her with the shower spray or having the shampoos applied, etc. Her hair is very hard to get wet though, it must be scotch guarded genetically! Well, got to get back to work but wanted to keep you updated on "our" dog, since I think she is well adjusted from her time well spent with you and Wayne.
So thanks to Col. Potter, Ruth, Ann & Wayne, and some great folks in Jax Fla USA, Marmalade's journey is complete with a very happy ending. If you ever wonder why people foster dogs, just think of Marmalade.
I chose her Col. Potter name as Marmalade before I ever saw her, but it described her coloring perfectly. Marmie came to us heartworm positive and she started the protocol as soon as possible, under the fantastic staff at the Mandarin Veterinary Hospital. She breezed through the treament and never complained about her endless days of kennel rest. We described her more as a cairn-chow chow mix, noting the blue-black tongue and close set eyes.
Marmie's strong personality emerged more every day. She started to snarl and show her teeth when Dad tried to feed her or give her simple commands. I took her to my groomer, who is also a professional trainer, for some pampering. She suggested I bring her back to the shop every day so Marmie could watch and learn trust. Patrick, who works at the grooming shop, talked with her and handfed her chicken jerky. Marmie took it with an emotional hunger. I took her to obedience classes where she loved trotting alongside me. However, following the "sit" and "down" commands were NOT to her liking. She eventually complied but more and more I realized that I was not a strong enough Alpha to continue fostering Marmie.
Ruth in the Orlando area offered to take Marmie. So in late December we met in Daytona Beach and loaded the leary Marmalade in Ruth's convertible. Well, truth be told, Ruth was a little leary too. But off they went.
In January, Ruth's update read: Everybody that meets Marmalade remarks what a beautiful dog she is! No exceptions! There is some Chow in her and her tongue looks like she just ate blueberries. She is OK with other dogs, but would prefer to be alpha; since I already have an alpha, Marmalade is content to be by herself inthe living room with the ability to watch household activity. She is generally quiet; when she barks, I pay attention. I do let her out in the back yard with the other dogs and everyone is fine, even with my alpha nipping at her heels. She presents herself as aloof but enjoys attention. Food is a BIG issue. She learned as a stray and as an alpha to growl, show teeth when there is food around. It is as if the Care Bear turned into a fire-breathing dragon! It is scary BUT she has to sit in her crate before she gets her food bowl. She has been starved in the past and we are getting much better; while frightening, she is wagging her tail--what an actress. She knows that her actions are intimidating and it is only around food that her behavior varies from a kind, Care Bear.
A few weeks later, thru no real fault of her own, Marmalde moved to yet another foster home in Virginia. While Ruth and I were concerned for Marmalade, knowing Ann & Wayne as extraordinary people and dog lovers calmed some fears. We just wanted Marmie, or Lady as Ruth called her, safe in an environment where she could blossom.
Well, as they say, the third time's the charm and Wayne reported that: Marmalade is very sweet but does have food aggression and warrants special treatment at the time of feeding. She's very sweet, playful, and ritualistic in her routine. She's smart, learns quickly and knows her boundaries not to mention she has never had an accident in our home. She is a mix with a great deal of Chow Chow...black tongue, large feet, square head, and a lot of loose skin behind the neck and shoulders. Her eyes are also set further back than a cairn....but she's adorable and will make a wonderful companion for the right person. She's healthy, happy, and getting along great with 5 other cairns at this time.
To me, this was incredible progress, especially since I originally thought it was men that Marmie did not like. Later, Wayne described Marmie's hip-butting play, even more evidence of her adjustment to busy households, like those who apply to adopt our kids.
I believe that for every furkid, there is a perfect forever family. And noone finds that family better that the Col. Potter Matchmakers! They don't rush it, but when the right application arrives, their magic starts happening. For Marmie, it finally happened in mid-April. And to my great surprise, it was a guy applying to adopt Marmalade - a chow-chow experieced guy!
Well, Marm has been in her forever home in New Jersey for several weeks now and the updates could not be better! Here is what her Dad says:
Marmalade is doing fine and adjusting well. Her personality is coming out as she gets
more comfortable and her tail wags everytime I talk to her. We take at least two walks
a day of 20 minutes plus, early morning and dinner time. She has gone with me to work twice and just loves riding in the Tahoe. Seems very content to have the back seat to herself and inhales the wind through the moon roof if she isn't just sleeping.
I was at Linda's house this weekend as it was her mother's 87th birthday and she had a
great party for her with many family and friends over. So Marmalade got to meet about
16 new people at at once and she handled the flurry of activity and the new smells etc and
attention very well. She actually barked at people when she wasn't getting attention or if
I was out of sight. For the most part she has been quiet and not barking, which is fine too.
She is a smart girl for sure. Something interesting I noticed at my house is that when I return
to my apartment house with her from a long walk , no matter what direction we return from, she knows what driveway to walk up since my entrance is in the rear of the house! I was anxious to see how she would behave at Linda's house after a walk. So the two of us took her for a long walk and we actually tried to walk past her driveway but Marmalade just turned and walked up towards her front door. Pretty amazing!
I gave her a bath before the birthday party and she is perfectly calm in the shower, nothing
bothers her with the shower spray or having the shampoos applied, etc. Her hair is very hard to get wet though, it must be scotch guarded genetically! Well, got to get back to work but wanted to keep you updated on "our" dog, since I think she is well adjusted from her time well spent with you and Wayne.
So thanks to Col. Potter, Ruth, Ann & Wayne, and some great folks in Jax Fla USA, Marmalade's journey is complete with a very happy ending. If you ever wonder why people foster dogs, just think of Marmalade.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Saxon - A Happy Ever-After Story
Saxon was a stray found roaming the streets of NY. He went to a Foster home in CA, but seemed to have some problems and had to come to boot camp. It seems that Saxon has been kicked because when you stick your foot out in front of him, he will bite it. Otherwise he is a sweet boy.. He knows that when he comes in from his last potty before going to bed, everyone gets a treat. So Saxon comes running in from the outside, stops at the kitchen counter and looks up to the treat jar. He will stay there until he sees me picking up a treat, then we will run to his crate and wait for me to give him his goodie.
After a few months working with him Saxon was made available for adoption. Enter one of CP’s great adoptive homes (they've adopted 3 cairns from us already). The match was made when I noticed that something is not right with Saxon’s eyes. I spoke to the possible home and asked them to hold off until I can take Saxon to an Ophthalmologist. Their responds was No Problem. We found out that Saxon had Uveitis – OU and his retinal is detaching. In short; he will be blind soon.
While you would never know that he has a problem with his eye I sent all the info to the adoptive home and told them that there is no pressure and if they choose to not adopt him, that is fine. After talking to their own Vet, the adoptive home came back and said "We Want Him".
Because of timing issues with me (Tax season and CRAP) we opted for the adoptive home to pick Saxon up this week. When I got back from CRAP last Wednesday I noticed a knot on Saxon’s tummy. I took him to the Vet on Thursday just to find out that he had a Mast Cell Tumor.. I once again informed the adoptive home of the situation and once again they where very good and just said; let’s see what the pathology report says. My Vet removed that tumor on Friday and now we where waiting on the pathology report to come back. This Wednesday I got the news that his mast cell tumor was a stage 2 and was NOT actively dividing, meaning it was not aggressive.
I informed the adoptive home of the good news and they have decided to pick Saxon up next week. It shows that no matter what curve ball life throws at Saxon, he deals with it, and so does his Adoptive Family.
Very happy and proud Foster mom Monika in South Carolina.
After a few months working with him Saxon was made available for adoption. Enter one of CP’s great adoptive homes (they've adopted 3 cairns from us already). The match was made when I noticed that something is not right with Saxon’s eyes. I spoke to the possible home and asked them to hold off until I can take Saxon to an Ophthalmologist. Their responds was No Problem. We found out that Saxon had Uveitis – OU and his retinal is detaching. In short; he will be blind soon.
While you would never know that he has a problem with his eye I sent all the info to the adoptive home and told them that there is no pressure and if they choose to not adopt him, that is fine. After talking to their own Vet, the adoptive home came back and said "We Want Him".
Because of timing issues with me (Tax season and CRAP) we opted for the adoptive home to pick Saxon up this week. When I got back from CRAP last Wednesday I noticed a knot on Saxon’s tummy. I took him to the Vet on Thursday just to find out that he had a Mast Cell Tumor.. I once again informed the adoptive home of the situation and once again they where very good and just said; let’s see what the pathology report says. My Vet removed that tumor on Friday and now we where waiting on the pathology report to come back. This Wednesday I got the news that his mast cell tumor was a stage 2 and was NOT actively dividing, meaning it was not aggressive.
I informed the adoptive home of the good news and they have decided to pick Saxon up next week. It shows that no matter what curve ball life throws at Saxon, he deals with it, and so does his Adoptive Family.
Very happy and proud Foster mom Monika in South Carolina.
Update on Penny (fka Persephone)
Penny is doing great. She has a nice little routine now and she seems happy and content. I still take her to my mother in law's house while we're at work and she enjoys the attention. She's very friendly and outgoing now. She greets strangers on the street when we go for walks. She seems to have a good sense for people she should avoid though. :-) Our neighbor commented on how different she seems. Before she would sort of cower when someone approached her but now she approaches them with her tail wagging.
We've found that she has some funny traits lately. She's not a fan of metal, squeaky objects. She attacks three hole punches and cookie trays in the cupboard. She goes crazy when I take aluminum foil out of the box. I think she gets bothered by the noise the metal makes. It's nothing bad, just kind of funny.
She's letting us know when she has to go potty now by sitting by the back door. She has an occasional accident but that's only when we don't get to her fast enough or if she's left alone. She's still doing her "spite poops" but not every time we leave now. Sometimes I can leave for 20 minutes and she'll go potty. Other times we've left for a couple hours and she hasn't done anything. I think with time it will probably decrease but it's not a big deal since she has an affinity for the linoleum.
For her third birthday we got her a doggie birthday cake and put candles on it.
We've found that she has some funny traits lately. She's not a fan of metal, squeaky objects. She attacks three hole punches and cookie trays in the cupboard. She goes crazy when I take aluminum foil out of the box. I think she gets bothered by the noise the metal makes. It's nothing bad, just kind of funny.
She's letting us know when she has to go potty now by sitting by the back door. She has an occasional accident but that's only when we don't get to her fast enough or if she's left alone. She's still doing her "spite poops" but not every time we leave now. Sometimes I can leave for 20 minutes and she'll go potty. Other times we've left for a couple hours and she hasn't done anything. I think with time it will probably decrease but it's not a big deal since she has an affinity for the linoleum.
For her third birthday we got her a doggie birthday cake and put candles on it.
Lindy in Her Forever Home
Lindy's Foster Mom writes: "I have had many phone calls since Lindy went to her forever 2 weeks ago today. Here is an email they sent this morning - she really has the best home ever! Oh - and Sushi is their Westie."
Lindy is doing so well! We took her to Angell Memorial Hospital yesterday..an excellent training veterinary hospital here in Boston. She saw an ophthalmologist. He examined her and said that the corneal ulcer is due to an eyelash which is growing backwards, into her eye. He removed the eyelash in the office (she was so good!), but expects that it will grow back. So she may need to go under anesthesia in order to remove the follicle. we're going to see him on Monday for a follow-up. we have taken her on a few hikes to a nearby arboretum, a large park with lots of trees and trails. She loves this! She is thrilled to get out of the car and be there! At first she follows Sushi but then you can see her confidence grow and she finds her own pace.
Lindy is doing so well! We took her to Angell Memorial Hospital yesterday..an excellent training veterinary hospital here in Boston. She saw an ophthalmologist. He examined her and said that the corneal ulcer is due to an eyelash which is growing backwards, into her eye. He removed the eyelash in the office (she was so good!), but expects that it will grow back. So she may need to go under anesthesia in order to remove the follicle. we're going to see him on Monday for a follow-up. we have taken her on a few hikes to a nearby arboretum, a large park with lots of trees and trails. She loves this! She is thrilled to get out of the car and be there! At first she follows Sushi but then you can see her confidence grow and she finds her own pace.
Baby Dumpling's Fetish
Baby Dumpling, one of Blondie & Dagwood's pups seems to have a serious problem. Her Mom says: "HELP! lol! My lil girl has a foot fetish! She loves feet especialy SOCKS! I have signed her up for the Secret Sock Society because she up to 5 and 6 pair Habit a day! I warn you this picture may be disturbing to some!"
Baby D, who is 9 months old, went to the REAL groomer for the first time and got a Big Girl Hairdo! Looked soo pretty for 10 minutes and then proceeded to roll in duck poop! Just Ducky!!
Baby D, who is 9 months old, went to the REAL groomer for the first time and got a Big Girl Hairdo! Looked soo pretty for 10 minutes and then proceeded to roll in duck poop! Just Ducky!!
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